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Unions, Advocacy Groups Say It's Time To Tap Ohio's Rainy-Day Fund

WCBE 90.5FM | By Ohio Public Radio

Published January 27, 2021 at 7:37 PM EST

A coalition of more than 100 unions and progressive advocacy groups is

calling on state leaders to avoid making cuts to front-line workers serving communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.

Governor Mike DeWine recently ordered an across the board $390 million budget cut. But One Ohio Now’s Nick Bates says DeWine should tap some of the $2.7 billion dollars now in the state’s rainy-day fund.

“We cannot cut our way to solutions. Ohio needs a balanced approach to balancing the state budget. Ohio should use the rainy-day fund now to prevent further pandemic budget cuts.”

Bates says investments in social work, hunger and education are needed. DeWine has said he doesn’t want to dip into the rainy-day fund now but he expects to eventually. DeWine’s order also put back $160 million into K-12 education and $100 million into higher ed, which were both cut last year.

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