On Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 1:30–3:30 p.m. at the Pataskala Public Library, 101 Vine St., Pataskala, OH 43062, Mason, other candidates & subject matter experts will host a panel discussion on the CHILDCARE CRISIS IN OHIO.  The event is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. Let's discuss the challenges that finding affordable childcare creates for parents, providers, and businesses. The child care crisis in Ohio is a nonpartisan issue that affects families, employers, and the state as a whole. Mason and other candidates are working to identify practical solutions because “Increasing funding for parents and child care providers is an investment in Ohio’s future.”Barriers for parents include the availability of affordable care for standard and nonstandard work hours (shiftwork, weekends, nights, etc.).Affordability:  Childcare costs now exceed the federal definition of affordable by 2-5 times.  The federal government says childcare should be no more than 7% of income. In Licking County, families spend 12% - 17% of weekly income on childcare.  The percentage increases to 39% for a single-parent household.  Availability: : More than 55% of Ohio’s children under age 6 lived in “childcare deserts” last year, areas with no or low supply of licensed childcare facilities. Ohio’s rate was nearly 10 percentage points higher than the national average, which is 46%. The more rural, the bigger the problem. [1] Hebron, for example, has ONE preschool for ages 3-5, only.  NO infant care is available. More than 2,300 Licking County children are authorized to receive publicly funded childcare, but only 55%, 61 of 110 licensed providers participate in the programming.Childcare providers are operating on razor thin margins amid reduced reimbursement rates from the state. 40 providers in Ohio are going out of business every week.Economic impacts for businesses are a reduced workforce, particularly in the manufacturing, healthcare and service industries where shift work is the norm.$5.5 Billion in revenue is lost to the Ohio economy because of lack of affordable and /or available childcare for families who desire to be in the workplace.50% of workers cut back or reduce their hours because of childcare expenses. For central Ohio almost 21,000 more children could be enrolled in care.  That means an additional $4,371,000 would be added to the childcare system every week.