February 1, 2021
Fellow Ohioans and Members of the General Assembly:
The past year has been a challenging time in Ohio and across the nation and the world. The coronavirus pandemic has made clear that the strength of our economy depends on the health and well-being of our citizens.
With our Executive Budget for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023, we have an opportunity to make needed investments to help our great state recover. Our budget is built upon the knowledge that a thriving economy -- and ultimately the future of our state -- depends on healthy citizens and revitalized communities. By investing in our future, our proposed budget will help all Ohioans move forward together as we emerge stronger than ever.
This is our "Year of Recovery!" Our Executive Budget includes a $1 Billion Investing in Ohio Initiative, an aggressive plan to accelerate economic growth and ensure economic vitality. By making targeted investments for businesses that have been hardest hit during the pandemic and for our communities most in need, we can address disparities, build prosperity, and set Ohio on the road to a brighter future. This budget also represents the core values and mission of my Administration by investing in Ohio families, in the education and well-being of our children, in Ohio’s workforce, in our communities, and in our precious natural resources.
Ohio is in a position to make these vital investments because we took immediate action to ensure that our budget remained balanced at the onset of the pandemic. We made the hard choices early on that put us on stable footing as we enter this phase of economic recovery. As Governor, I will do all that I can to protect Ohioans’ health and put Ohio’s economy on a path to even greater success.
In my first State of the State Address, I quoted Robert Louis Stevenson, who said, "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but [rather] by the seeds that you plant." These words are even more significant today. The budget for the next two years continues to plant the seeds of hope and possibility -- and of courage and recovery -- that will grow into a more vibrant, prosperous, and flourishing Ohio for generations to come.
Very respectfully yours,
Mike DeWine
Governor