It gets a little harder each time to match state officials’ public optimism that Intel will live up to all its promises to Ohioans, when the news is that — again — the company is letting off the gas.

In fact, last week Intel said it will “further slow” the pace of construction on a microchip facility that was supposed to be up and running THIS year. The last time we got such news, The Columbus Dispatch reported Intel was delaying its opening to at least 2030 or 2031. It is not clear now how much further that date might be pushed.

“While the pace of construction in Ohio may not be as fast, Intel has affirmed its commitment to Ohio as the new leadership of the company makes adjustments to its long-term strategy,” Gov. Mike DeWine recently told the Dispatch.

Intel has already stopped moving forward with planned projects in Germany and Poland, and is planning to cut staffing by 15% in the months ahead, the Dispatch reported.

Remember all the flowery back-patting and cheerleading from public officials crowing about the game-changing impact a company of Intel’s stature would have in inspiring other companies to build here?

It’s time to start speaking in realistic terms to Buckeye State residents and local governments that have become too used to this kind of disappointment. It’s time to start clawing back public money that did not buy us what we hoped it would.

Intel has no qualms about going back on its word. The DeWine administration, the Ohio Department of Development and JobsOhio must not go back on theirs.