Addressing property tax problems

By Dr. Howard Fleeter A new report from the nonpartisan Ohio Education Policy Institute (OEPI) tells the story of how Ohio residential and agricultural property taxpayer costs have increased significantly over many years as well as a series of options to address the problem. Authored by R. Gregory Browning, former state budget director under Gov. […]

Guest column: Beyond the Mortgage

By Brandon Klein COLUMBUS — Buying a home is one of the largest purchases many individuals will ever make, that means there’s also the potential for this experience to become one of the largest headaches, especially if consumers aren’t prepared. To help ensure Ohioans are equipped with the information they need to fully understand the full […]

Guest editorial: modern investments

By Dean Monske Over the next decade there will be trillions of dollars invested in infrastructure for AI data centers in the United States. Now is the time for northwest Ohio to make certain we are prepared for what may be the largest economic development opportunity ever presented. Our region has already attracted billions of […]

Op-ed: Overide property tax vetoes

By Steve Stivers Ohio’s business community is facing mounting challenges, and skyrocketing property taxes are at the top of the list. At the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, we represent more than 8,000 businesses of every size, industry, and region across our state. When we surveyed our members last year, one message came through loud and clear: the […]

Guest column: travel scam dangers

By Jamie Crawford COLUMBUS — With nearly 82 percent of Americans planning to travel this summer, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Financial Institutions is urging Ohioans to be on the lookout for travel scams and fraud as they plan their summer getaway. Last year Booking.com reported there had been between a 500-900 percent increase in travel scams over […]

Op-ed: treatment courts effective

By Judge Jill T. Worthington Every day, courtrooms across the United States are filled with individuals impacted by substance use and mental health disorders. Without treatment to address the underlying cause of criminal behavior, many will continue to cycle in and out of the justice system, burdening law enforcement and at tremendous expense to taxpayers. […]

Opinion: tipping is out of control

By Gary Richards After recently participating in a major online discussion with hundreds of other people across the USA about the pros and cons of tipping for services in this country and how it has grown out of control, out of proportion, is being abused by many businesses and people working in the service industry […]

Guest column: tips for holiday bills

By Jamie Crawford COLUMBUS — As Ohioans await credit card bills from the recent holiday season, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Financial Institutions (DFI) is sharing tips to help consumers work through any post-holiday financial headaches, whether it’s managing surprisingly large invoices or dealing with potentially stolen credit cards. The National Retail Federation reported late last year that sales […]

Guest column: holiday shopping

By Jarrod Clay COLUMBUS — With 2024 consumer spending expected to reach a new record this holiday season, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Financial Institutions (DFI) has unveiled a free Holiday Gift Budgeting Guide to help Ohioans successfully navigate the upcoming season with fiscal responsibility in mind. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), consumer spending during the upcoming winter […]

Guest column: unclaimed funds

By Jarrod Clay COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Unclaimed Funds is currently safeguarding approximately $4 billion in unclaimed funds that is waiting to be claimed. Last year alone, Ohioans were able to put more than $139 million back into their pockets. Unclaimed funds are lost or forgotten money that businesses and […]