July 31, 2008 - Sales tax generated within the city limits of Chillicothe accounts are up for the month of July. City Hall receives 2.25 percent from sales tax which is distributed into four accounts: general, which receives one percent of the 2.25 percent; permanent street, which receives 0.5 percent; capital improvements, receiving .5 percent; and the fire department, which receives .25 percent. The tax is received from the state once a month from funds generated within the city two months prior. The exact amount the city receives, however, can dramatically fluctuate month to month because of late filings, consumer trends, inflation and many other variables.

City numbers indicate that the city is $46,141.11 up from last years totals at this time, according to Sherry Parks, city treasurer. Parks stated, “Sales tax fluctuates, Chillicothe is not necessarily doing better economically. We’re all spending more on retail products, such as gas.” With inflated prices at the tank, as well as the increase of retail items, the city also sees an increase in the tax generated for these items.

With the increase, the city does not actually have more money to spend because it is also dealing with inflation on the goods and services that it provides to the community, such as materials required for street repair. With the fiscal year starting April 1, 2008 and running through March 31, 2009, it is too early in the year to look at the budget and give any estimate of how the rest of the year will be or if the city is on target for the year, stated Parks.

Livingston County Commissioner Eva Danner stated that even though the county is marginally down for the month, that the county is holding steady and that Livingston County is "right in the ballpark". "Our county probably has a better draw factor than surrounding counties because we have good restaurants and shopping, things that draw people in, " said Danner. She went on to state that the county is not at the point of its projection but that officials are optimistic that the county will improve before the fiscal year, which runs for the county from Jan. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2008, is over.