Governor's plan cuts Ohio reimbursements for child care

4/17/2011

COLUMBUS — Gov. John Kasich’s budget plan would cut the state’s reimbursement payments to child care providers in Ohio who care for kids from low-income families.

The idea must be approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature, which is trying to tackle an $8 billion budget shortfall. Providers say they already are struggling to pay staff and maintain buildings.

In total, child care facilities would see a 7 percent cut in the rate the state reimburses them. Not all providers would feel the same reduction because it depends on the market rate for child care in their area.

Still, no child currently enrolled in the state-supported child care program would lose the benefit. And that has providers such as Tasha Johnson in Dayton calling the governor’s two-year budget plan “a double-edged sword.”