At the end of February, the state of Ohio was almost $200 million dollars above fiscal estimates for the year ending June 30, a sign of a strong economy, by the end of April, the state was below estimates by $776.9 million, almost a billion-dollar swing in revenue in a two month period.

The constitution of Ohio requires a balanced budget each year, requiring the Governor to identify and reduce expenditures to ensure the state’s budget is balanced on the last day of June.

During his daily press conference Tuesday afternoon Governor Mike DeWine announced cuts to the state budget, while also choosing to not pull from the state’s budget stabilization fund until July, and only if necessary.

“This could be a cold, long, lingering storm,” said DeWine in referring to the economic uncertainty that he hinted might last for up to two years.

Cuts include $300 million in funding to school districts across the state with DeWine saying the cuts will be “significant” to transfer payments districts usually receive in the months of May and June.

DeWine expressed concern for schools that don’t have the available revenue, indicating his intent to make cuts to districts that have available cash on hand or residents who are more able to fund their local schools.

When asked by a reporter, who referenced a historical number of defeated school levies this primary season, about additional cuts coming in July DeWine said he “hopes to avoid additional cuts,” but eluded that cuts are likely to continue into the next fiscal year.

The governor also announced over $210 million in funding reductions to Medicaid, a move that is likely to have adverse effects on Muskingum County as the jobless rate continues to climb and many lose their health insurance.

When questioned about cutting funding to Medicaid while in this mist of a health crisis Lt. Governor Jon Husted referenced the state’s requirement of a balanced budget while also saying that a large majority of the state’s revenue goes to paying for education, health and corrections, making the move an unpopular but necessary.

The plan, which was produced by the Ohio Office of Budget and Management for the governor signals that income tax, which funds a large portion of the state’s budget, and over half of Muskingum County’s budget is in decline.

This could potentially indicate that while those on unemployment are often making more locally than they did before the crisis, they are not spending all the money they receive. It could also mean money is not circulating at the same rate it was earlier this year even with trillions added to circulation.

Muskingum County won’t receive its sales tax figures from the state for March until mid-May, but County Commissioners said Monday the county had a healthy carry over of funds from last year that should help them weather a short term economic slowdown.