Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has laid out his proposed two-year state budget. It sinks $1 billion into one-time spending.
DeWine says his plan would use $1 billion of federal and state funds to create the “Investing in Ohio” initiative. It’s one-time money that DeWine says will do four things.
“We will be supporting Ohio’s small businesses, strengthening Ohio’s communities, growing Ohio’s skilled workforce and telling Ohio’s story," DeWine said. The initiative includes:
- Investing $200 million in grants for bars and restaurants;
- Investing $150 million in grants for Small Business Relief Grant applicants, who previously applied and are qualified;
- Investing $50 million in grants for lodging industry businesses;
- Investing $40 million in grants for indoor entertainment venues;
- And investing $20 million in grants for new businesses, many of whom were unqualified to receive previous funding.
DeWine also says his budget will "tell Ohio's story" by investing $50 million to bring Ohioans who have moved elsewhere back home and to try to attract new residents and entrepreneurs to come to Ohio to take advantage of career opportunities and college availabilities.
Upon hearing that, the minority leader of the Ohio House, Emilia Sykes tweeted her thoughts on why people don't want to live in Ohio.
Instead of spending $50m for a PR campaign Republicans could stop passing extremist legislation that keeps women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, and working families from realizing their American dream in Ohio. It would be a lot cheaper. And much more kind.— Emilia Sykes (@EmiliaSykesOH) February 1, 2021
When asked about the comments from Sykes and others, Governor DeWine responded saying, "Ohio is a welcoming place. I don't care who you are. We want you to come to Ohio. You know it's a progressive state."
Gov DeWine’s proposed budget calls for spending $50 million on trying to attract new people/biz to Ohio and convince Ohioans who have moved away to come back. I asked him about this. pic.twitter.com/1mMR9eteF2— Jo Ingles (@joingles) February 1, 2021
DeWine says the state the budget doesn’t raise taxes though it will raise some fees. And it doesn’t touch the nearly $3 billion in the state’s rainy day fund though DeWine hasn’t ruled out using it in the future to address needs brought on by the pandemic.
State budget director Kimberly Murnieks says the budget shows that finances are beginning to stabilize after the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"But we still have to be very careful to not create a situation in the future where we have spent some of the one-time revenues on recurring obligations that then create those fiscal cliffs," Murnieks said.
Among the fees that will be increased are BMV costs for vehicle and title registration, generating an additional $127 million a year for the state highway patrol.
This story will be updated as new information becomes available.
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