Chamber calendar

Thursday, July 3: Boogie on the Blacktop, sponsored by YPN; Elks parking lot, West Second Street; 7-10 p.m.

Monday, July 7: Chamber on The Sounding Board, WBEX, 1490 AM, 8:35 a.m.

Tuesday, July 8: Membership and Events Committee, 11:30 a.m., chamber.

Monday, July 14: Executive Committee, 8:30 a.m., chamber

Wednesday, July 16: Business After Business, at Herrnstein Chrysler Plymouth Mitsubishi on Marietta Road, co-sponsored by Huntington Bank and Herrnstein Hyundai, 5-7 p.m.
BAB Registration

Chamber-related links

Economic Development
www.edaso.org

Downtown Chillicothe
www.downtownchillicothe.com

Chillicothe YPN
www.chillicotheypn.com

Visitors Bureau
www.visitchillicotheohio.com

Chamber event photos
www.chillicothe-chamber.smugmug.com

Click above to go to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce site for small business

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Copyright 2008

Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
45 E. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
740-702-2722

Analysis of sales tax returns shows

softening of the local economy

By Marvin Jones

President and CEO

The recent effort by the Ross County commissioners to head off what looks to be a substantial shortfall in sales tax revenue demonstrates a soft local economy in the first three months of this year. The commissioners voted to trim $327,000 in planned expenses from their General Fund the rest of this year.

The bulk of the county’s revenue comes from the piggyback sales tax of 1.5 percent atop the state’s 6 percent rate. The state breaks down the origin of the revenue from several sources to allow for deeper analysis of the economy.

Ross County received 73 percent of its sales tax revenue from retailers, restaurants and other businesses charging the tax. In the first quarter of 2008, that amounted to $8.3 million of the total $11.3 million received. That was a decline from the previous year of about 3.2 percent. In real dollars, that was $149,000 less than a year ago and represented 42 percent of the total $355,142 decrease.

The largest decline in terms of percentage came from what’s called direct pay returns. This is what industries pay directly to the state for their goods and services rather than to their suppliers. This category declined 35 percent from the previous year, or $86,824.

County Auditor Steve Neal said these figures reflect when gasoline was only about $3.25 a gallon and the crippling snowstorm that hit the area in early March, keeping people from shopping and eating out. He is forecasting a full-year decline of 5.4 percent, or $611,193 based on the first quarter trends. In the past 14 years, sales tax revenue has declined only twice compared to the previous year and the most was $95,000 in 2003, or slightly less than 1 percent.

Grassroots effort needed to battle sick leave proposal 

Tony Fiore, the director for human relations and labor policy for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, told a group of about 30 chamber member businesses it will take the efforts of all businesses and industries in the state to defeat the proposed sick leave mandate expected to be on the Nov. 4 ballot. In answering questions from the group, Fiore noted:

• Personnel agencies and seasonal firms would be especially hard hit by the proposal, if it passes.
• Existing contracts between labor unions and firms would be affected eventually.
• Some firms are looking to cut other benefits to pay for the cost this proposal could impose.
• There would be no exemptions in regard to employees who are covered by federal law, such as teen-agers and the disabled.

The proposal calls for all employers of 25 or more full- and part-time workers (private, government, non-profit, etc.) to provide a minimum of seven days of sick pay per year, keeps employers from disciplining employees who abuse the benefit and doesn’t allow employers to take into account any of its abuses in promotions or other employment matters.

At its Thursday meeting, your chamber’s Board of Directors adopted a resolution opposing the proposal and urging chamber members and their employees to vote against it, if it is on the ballot in November. To learn how you or organization can become involved, here’s a link to the Ohio chamber’s website that includes the exact language of the proposal: Sick leave mandate

Members take advantage of chamber’s workers’ comp benefit

In the past program year, 72 members of this chamber saved $568,619 in workers’ compensation premiums by utilizing the chamber’s partnership with Compensation Consultants Inc. The third-party administrator compiled the figures from chamber members. Sixteen more members are enrolled in the service from a year ago. One chamber member is saving $83,000 a year on premiums and several more than $20,000 each. Even the chamber itself is saving $602 a year by being enrolled. The chamber’s partnership with CCI includes a royalty that helps keep dues lower for all members. To learn how your organization can benefit, get in touch with Kirsten Gibson at 800-837-3200 Ext. 7110 or email her at kirsten.gibson@ccitpa.com

Short takes from here and there

• In case you missed it and your organization’s mileage rate is tied to the official federal rate, it’s going to 58.5 cents per mile starting July 1. That’s a jump from 50.5 cents that began on Jan. 1.
• Your firm should have received recently the first installment in another benefit of chamber membership. Each member is to receive a one-year complimentary subscription to either INC or Fast Company. The first installments were mailed in the last week.
• Two vacant business structures may be springing back to life shortly. The old Post Office at Paint and Fifth streets is expected to have a new owner shortly while the former Sharpy’s Shack at Pohlman Road and Fifth Street has a sign saying Hooks Pizza and Dairy Treats is opening there soon.
• Rob Beverly, formerly the senior human resource manager at NewPage, is joining the HR department at USEC, according to a news release. This comes at the same time NewPage announces it is expediting its shutdown. USEC also hired another HR professional  in a situation similar to Beverly. Dan Krey was at the GM plant in Moraine that also is being closed.
• Ross County unemployment rate of 6.7 percent in May was up from 6.6 percent in April and 6.3 percent in May 2007. The state shows the county with 2,300 people looking for jobs in a labor force of 34,500.
• Craig Lund, president of Value Added Business Services, recently announced the office supply company acquired BARCO Supply in Waverly. BARCO has been selling janitorial and other supplies since 1968.
• Photos from the two previous Business After Businesses now are available online: www.chillicothe-chamber.smugmug.com

Ribbon cuttings signal opening of new businesses

Brooke Boydston celebrated not only the dedication of her Ashley House banquet facility on Ohio 104 north this week, but also her birthday on the same day. With her is her mother Loretta Boydston. Brooke renovated the kitchen and many of the rooms, including adding murals from a local artist. To book an event or check out the facilities, give her a call at 773-5779.

Teshia Polley recently opened Your Style Invitations in downtown Chillicothe at 41 S. Paint St. She specializes in couture stationery and graphic design.You can give her a call at 937-876-9815 or check her out on the web at www.yourstyleinvites.com.

Newest chamber members to welcome:

• The Water Express LLC, 400 Chamber Drive (former First Capital Craft Mall building), by Traci Cochenour, providing bottled water distribution, 774-6833, www.thewaterexpress.com
• W&W Dry Cleaners and Laundry, 199 W. Main St., by Ben Snodgrass, 779-1444.

Vendor licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor:

• Embroid Me, 1290 N. Bridge St., by CNT Embroidery.
• Angela’s Pretty Paws Grooming, 13205 Lower Twin Road, by Angela Ward.