COLUMBUS, Ohio - Gov. Mike DeWine assured residents that the state maintains strict controls to prevent theft within its publicly funded childcare system. The announcement comes as state lawmakers call for a deeper review of the program.

State Rep. Tex Fischer, whose district includes parts of the Valley, sent a letter to Auditor of State Keith Faber requesting an inquiry into how Ohio uses funds for childcare. The Boardman Republican said he wants to ensure public money is serving the families it is intended to help. Forty-two other House members signed the request.

Fischer noted that federal investigators recently froze funding for a Minnesota childcare program due to fraud allegations. He said he plans to introduce legislation to give the state auditor more authority to start performance audits.

DeWine stated that Ohio oversees nearly 5,200 state-funded facilities. To protect public funds, he noted that the state pays these providers based on attendance rather than enrollment. Taxpayer dollars are used only when a child is physically present at a facility.

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth says it verifies this attendance using technology. The system requires a personal identification number or a location-specific QR code to track when children arrive and leave.

State officials also rely on physical inspections to ensure compliance. The department conducted more than 10,000 unannounced visits to daycare centers across Ohio in 2025. As a direct result of these visits, the state closed 38 centers last year.

The governor addressed specific rumors circulating on social media, including a claim that a Columbus childcare facility was actually a tobacco shop. DeWine explained that investigators visited the site and found that the online map images were outdated. The facility had not yet received public funds and passed an inspection in October.

DeWine also credited public tips for helping the state recover funds. The department received 124 tips from the public before the end of last year. Investigations into those reports resulted in 61 centers paying back overpayments to the state.

The Department of Children and Youth encourages the public to report potential fraud through its website or toll-free hotline.