Governor Dewine visits local daycare facility, promotes childcare tax credit

Governor Mike DeWine was impressed when he arrived at Eagle's Christian Preschool and Daycare Thursday afternoon. Throughout the tour he praised workers as he and Ohio's First Lady Fran DeWine toured the facility on Hylda Avenue, on Youngstown's South Side.

"Fran and I have talked to principals and kindergarten teachers, who talked about, frankly, the difference between kids who have been in quality daycare and those who have not been," said the state leader.

While there, the governor is also promoting a budget item that would give up to $1000 in tax credits to working families with children six and under.

"It's a budget that invests in families. Families in this state are the core." Dewine emphasized, adding that this measure aimed to alleviate a heavy burden for many low- and middle-class families.

 In order to be eligible, an individual would have to make more than $2,500 per year.  An income of at least $22,500 is required to receive the full $1,000 and begins to phase out for higher incomes.  An individual making more than 69,000 or a family making more than 94,000 would not be eligible.

Governor DeWine says an increase in taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products would cover the $450 million annual cost.

"In one sense it increases cigarette tax, but for 450,000 families in the state of Ohio, it would be a tax cut," he explained.

So far the Ohio House has rejected the idea, amending House Bill 96, which incorporates the two-year budget, to exclude the proposal. That bill is now making its way through the Senate.