When a state manages to build a substantial rainy day fund, there are inevitably those who believe they know exactly how it should be spent.

Such is the case with an Ohio child welfare organization that is suggesting the rainy day fund and billions in other unused revenue should be used to help expand child programs and services. Certainly the data from which the Children’s Defense Fund Ohio has drawn its conclusions suggests there is work to be done. Too many Buckeye State children are at a disadvantage from the start, and face challenges many of us cannot imagine. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, CDF-Ohio used “Ohio Kids Count” data to form its opinion.

As of fiscal year 2023, children in publicly funded child care rose from the previous year, from 5.1% up to 5.3%, while students considered economically disadvantaged in the state, qualifying for free or reduced-price school meals ticked up to 49.6% in the 2022-23 school year, from 46.6% in 2021-22, according to the report. Chronic absenteeism is a bigger problem than it was pre-pandemic, too.

Lawmakers must walk a careful line between using resources to help Ohio kids specifically and preserving resources for helping Buckeye State residents of all ages — without taking away the safety net that is our rainy day fund. They’ve gotten close on a couple of efforts. Let’s hope next time around they can make it happen.