Ohio parents not optimistic about proposed child tax credit

COLUMBUS, Ohio — After Gov. Mike DeWine announced the addition of a child tax credit in his new proposed state budget on Monday, some parents are raising concerns.

DeWine said he’s working to bring Ohio families relief with his proposed state budget by adding a child tax credit up to $1,000 for families with children 6 years old and under. If approved, the tax credit would be funded by an increased tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products by $1.50.

Haylee Rogers, a mom of two children, said she feels the child tax credit won’t help enough.

“One-thousand dollars isn’t really enough to have me go right back to working in my career,” said Rogers, who left her job to offset high child care costs. “$1,000 a month? OK, now, we are talking, but $1,000 doesn’t even cover two weeks of child care.”

In a recent survey released by Groundwork Ohio, half of Ohio parents said they’ve had to cut back on work hours to help offset high child care costs.

Day care owner and mom Kristi Thompson is upset her youngest child, who is 8 years old, won’t qualify for the tax credit, which is limited to children aged six years or younger.

“It would help me put food on the table and pay my bills,” said Thompson. “That’s exactly where all that money goes.”

According to budget documents, the child tax credit would be refundable, and some portion would be available to parents with a joint income of $94,000 or less. The limit for married separate filers is $56,000. For single filers, the credit is available on incomes up to $69,000. 

“This will be a significant amount of money, and it will help these families,” DeWine said. “I am frankly very excited by it.” 

Rogers thinks middle-class families will continue to be left behind.

“Just because we are above that line doesn’t mean we don’t need help,” Rogers added. “Between rent prices, student loans, everyday prices on top of child care, there is no help for us. We don’t qualify for anything.”

The Ohio House Finance Committee began budget hearings Tuesday. DeWine’s 600-page budget proposal is now in the hands of state lawmakers.