Downtown Business District Support and your Taxes

[Butch]

Many articles have been published these last ten years regarding the
plight of our downtown business districts. Unfortunately not many of
them contain any actual information as to what the effects on your
wallets are when shopping online or at the mall.
In my own home town of Delaware, Ohio utility rate increases and
general fund balances of the city and county have suffered due to the
recession, housing losses, and most importantly the lack of support of
this community for our downtown businesses. Most of our downtown
businesses provide a plethora of products and services (greatest
growth sector) to our citizens. The sales taxes generated through the
patronage of these businesses helps keep your utility and city taxes
lower than they otherwise would be if your shopping dollars leak
elsewhere.
One complaint I always hear is that "They don't have what I need, or
the price is too high." Our downtown business association Main Street
Delaware has worked diligently during the past decade to help resolve
this issue with limited success.
Viewed from the turnover perspective, some of our small business
failures have been the direct result of the owners themselves not
performing due diligence which would result in measurable results. One
constant frustration of potential customers is that "They are never
open!!!" which is a battle we are slowly winning. Four of the last
six new small businesses paid specific attention to their product,
their market demographic, and the needs of the community


which has resulted in their being reasonably successful to the point
that they have made it past the five year "make it or break it" period
most small businesses experience from their start-up phase. Serving
the customers needs (which is the reason you have a business) will
allow your business venture to take care of itself when you notice
these small business survival factors.