School Bond Issues Critical

We tend to note when other school districts have bond issues and levies on the ballot, but if it’s not our district, we likely don’t consider what’s at stake. What we need to do is look at the bigger picture. If you live in the city and Northwestern and Northeastern have issues to build new schools, the outcome has an impact on you … or anyone who lives in Clark County. Why? School districts, townships, villages are not islands unto themselves. What they do impacts others. I mention the schools, in particular, because Northeastern and Northwestern have issues that would build new schools in both districts. Quality education requires facilities conducive to learning. And existing businesses looking to grow, or new ones considering locating in Clark County, need the assurance that there is a capable workforce coming out of our local schools. The Ohio Schools Facilities Commission will pay 45 percent or $23 million of the projected cost and 41 percent or $48 million in the Northeastern district. What’s especially noteworthy is this likely will be the only chance those districts can get that money from the OSFC, as its funds are nearly depleted. Have a great Chamber day and vote Nov. 3.

Strong Schools = Strong Community

One of the most important functions of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce is to promote economic development in Springfield and Clark County.
Businesses have a number of issues they explore before expanding or moving to a community. At the top or near the top of the list is the educational system. They demand a pool of well-educated workers coming out of the local schools to fill the jobs their companies bring. They also want a quality school system for their own children.
Two school districts in Clark County – Northeastern and Northwestern – have buildings that are rapidly deteriorating to the point they now threaten the educational process. Northeastern and Northwestern are asking voters to approve a combined property tax and earned income tax.
Both have the opportunity to replace their outdated buildings. The Ohio Schools Facilities Commission would pick up 45 percent of the cost in the Northwestern District or $23 million, and 41 percent or $48 million in the Northeastern District. That’s quite a discount for residents in those districts, and one that likely will not be available again as state funds for new schools are all but depleted.
Northeastern is asking voters to approve a 7.572 property tax and a .25 percent income tax. You can determine what it would cost you by going to the district’s Website at www.nelsd.org and using the online calculator. Northwestern is asking for a 7.36 mil, 28-year property tax to build the schools and one percent earned income tax for operating expenses. Find more information at www.northwestern.k12.oh.us.
Some are asking why request this money during a down economy. Good question. The district is told by the OSFC when it is eligible for funding and this happens to be that time for both districts. If district voters don’t approve the funding, the problems won’t go away. They’ll only get worse. Money will be wasted repairing the buildings and the cost to replace will escalate. Plus, there’s a good chance in the future the districts will have to pay 100 percent of the costs for construction.
We as a community and Northeastern and Northwestern as school districts can’t afford to miss out on these opportunities. Remember, your home’s value is directly related to the schools in your district. Buyers with children check out the schools before purchasing a home. Look at it as an investment in, not only your community, but in your home, your greatest financial asset.

These issues are of the utmost importance in moving Springfield-Clark County forward. The children of these districts and all of Springfield/Clark County are counting on you. Don’t let the community and the children down, please.

"Tis The Season For Chamber Benefits!

With the Christmas shopping season approaching and knowing some of you like to get a jump on the crowds, I wanted to remind you about our Member2Member marketplace. It’s a page on our website (www.greaterspringfield.com and click Chamber of Commerce) where local merchants can post coupons free of charge to bring in customers or consumers can use the coupons to save money.
I’m hoping merchants and consumers will take advantage of this. You need a memberID, which is the word “member” (lower case) and your five digit Chamber ID number. It’s listed by your name in the Business and Professional directory that you recently received.
You’ll also need a password. For help with either, email Mindy Tillman at mtillman@greaterspringfield.com or phone her at 937-521-1945. Also during this shopping season, remember to “Buy Springfield” and keep the sales tax money in the community.
To save on gas while driving around town to buy those gifts, be sure to get your Speedway six-cents per gallon discount card from the Chamber and support another local company. We have plenty of cards in stock at our offices. All your employees and their immediate family members are entitled to a card. Take advantage of this offer. Have a great Chamber day!

RegionView Changing

Among antique collectors worldwide, Bruce Knight is an All-Star. His passion for antiques that began when he was a child has helped filter millions of tourism dollars into Springfield and Clark County, first with his Springfield Antique Show and Flea Market and now with the Heart of Ohio Antique Center in Harmony. You can read about Bruce and his wife, Vivalyn, and their antiquing exploits in the Chamber’s latest RegionView newsletter. Other stories include updates on the Buck Creek boating and navigability project, the Hartman Rock Garden and this week’s national German Shepherd dog show at the Clark County Fairgrounds. This will be the last RegionView until February when we will partner with Cox Ohio Publishing, which is launching “Springfield B2B,” a local every-other-month business magazine. RegionView will be an eight-page insert in the magazine, but we also will have 2,000 stand-alone copies to distribute. Look for the latest RegionView at the library, the Bushnell Building, the Chamber office atriuim, Young’s Jersey Dairy or in your mailbox if you are a Chamber member. There is lots of good … and interesting … news to report. Have a great Chamber day!

The Changing Face of Springfield

Ohio Valley Medical Center Administrator Steve Eistentrager talked of the surgical center having done 1,000 surgeries in its first month of operation (pardon the pun) and forecasting it would do 10,000 per year. What intrigued me was another statement he made at our Networking at Night event recently. He said those 10,000 procedures would lead to 30,000 people coming downtown on an annual basis as patients and to visit those patients, plus 100 staff, not counting doctors. Then, when Clark State announced last week plans to build a Creative Arts and Conference Center adjacent to the Performing Arts Center, President Karen Rafinski made reference to the number of students who would be coming downtown. We’ve been talking about how the yet-to-be-named Center City Park, the Springfield Regional Medical Center and the ice arena would bring people to the downtown area. And what happens when people begin gathering in a certain area? It spurs other development. Andy Bell, who is heading the fundraising campaign for the $5.8 million Arts and Conference Center, wondered out loud if any other community in the country has as many projects going on as does Springfield. The face of this community is changing for the better. Have a great Chamber day!