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Child tax credits, tax increases, full school funding: DeWine unveils $61B budget proposal
DeWine kicked off the state’s biannual budget process Monday with a proposed 2026-2027 operating budget package that would cost the state $61 billion
• DeWine’s proposal would, among other things:
— Give Ohio families a $1,000 tax credit per child funded by a $1.50 cigarette tax increase
— Increase sports gambling taxes from 20% to 40% and direct the new revenue into a fund for major and minor league teams to improve or fully replace their stadiums and for the state to offset sports costs for Ohio youth
— Increase the recreational cannabis sales tax from 10% to 20%
— Further tie state funding of public universities to graduates’ career placements
— Continue Ohio’s universal school choice voucher system and implement the state’s third and final round of its state school funding formula
• Reduction in funds: The 2026-2027 biannual budget is $25 billion less than the current two-year operating budget due to the absence of federal COVID-19 and pandemic recovery funds.
• What DeWine said: “We should look at this coming budget — this budget — as a budget that goes back to normal. We had a lot of federal dollars coming in, those federal dollars are not coming in anymore.”
• All told: With federal funding added in, DeWine’s proposal comes out to $218 billion over the next two years.
Air Wisconsin plans 200 layoffs in Dayton; flights will not be canceled
Air Wisconsin Airlines is moving toward temporary and permanent job reductions that could affect just over 200 employees at the Dayton International Airport.
• Air Wisconsin: It was the 10th largest regional airline in the United States in 2022, has a crew base and leases a maintenance hangar at the Dayton airport.
• WARN notice: The airline has issued an Ohio Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice that says it may temporarily lay off 185 union-represented employees and permanently cut 20 management and salaried workers in Ohio.
• Who it effects: Dozens of flight captains, first officers, flight attendants and mechanics could be laid off.
• American Airlines partnership: Since March 2023, Air Wisconsin has operated flights for American Airlines. That agreement has been terminated.
• The numbers: About 62,300 travelers who departed the Dayton International Airport last year flew on Air Wisconsin’s jets. About 10% of all passenger boardings at the airport were for flights being operated by Air Wisconsin for American Airlines.
• What’s next? American Airlines says Air Wisconsin currently operates flights out of Dayton that go to Chicago. American says it will transition this service to other regional providers and the air carrier will not cancel its routes from Dayton when its relationship with Air Wisconsin changes.
• Second recent airport change: PSA Airlines announced last week that it will be relocating its headquarters from the Dayton airport to North Carolina.
What to know today
• One big takeaway: Kings Island recently updated fans on the progress of its newest attraction, slated to open this summer inside the Soak City water park.
• Tip of the day: Here is a guide to Valentine’s Day events and specials in the Gem City and beyond.
• Big move of the day: Peerless Technologies Corp., a defense company celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, just made its first acquisition.
• Person to know today: Eric Bedel. The executive chef at Crooked Handle Brewing Co. in Piqua, has nearly 35 years of experience cooking with time spent in places like Indianapolis, Nashville, Detroit and Fort Collins.
• Dayton Food & Dining: Last week, the owners of three restaurants in the Dayton region announced closures.
• Quote of the day: “This is a commonsense step toward treating all VA employees equally,” Acting VA Secretary Todd Hunter said in a statement regarding ending remote working. “Most VA clinical staff don’t have the luxury of working remotely, and we believe the performance, collaboration and productivity of the department will improve if all VA employees are held to the same standard.”
• Help us out: The Dayton Daily News wants to talk to people in the Southwest Ohio coverage area who have experienced a scam when purchasing tickets to see entertainment and arts shows or events. Please answer our questionnaire.
• Photo of the day: The Dayton Silent Disco Cosplay Party happened at The Brightside Music & Event Venue in downtown Dayton on Friday. Check out all the photos from Tom Gilliam here.
