Montgomery County sales tax increase: What do these residents think?

Montgomery County’s overall sales tax rate climbed from 7.25 percent to 7.5 percent beginning today. The extra quarter-percent tax figures to add an average of $36 a year, or about a dime more a day, for every man, woman and child in Montgomery County, according to county officials.

Some people say the higher sales tax rate will hardly be noticed by residents. Others said that, if noticed, the extra 0.25 percent probably won’t greatly change shopping, even for those most concerned about the increase.

Here’s what a few Montgomery County residents said about the increase:

Crystal Clemons, 53, Trotwood 

“I still have to live every day. I would give it a thought. I would be more conscious about purchasing some things. I’m a bargain shopper. If it’s in Greene County, I’m going to Greene County, even though I live in Montgomery County.”

Philip Ferrari, 30, Washington Twp.

“I don’t think it would change my shopping habits at all. I think that sales tax revenue is being taken from municipalities and going to the state a lot of times. I think having more revenue stay in the county is important moving forward. We need more things in our cities to help us with education and our police forces and our safety net here.”

John Kauflin, 53, Dayton 

“I never thought about it that much, but I don’t have that much concern.”

Ron Niesley, 66, Clayton 

“I don’t know offhand what the purpose of it is, but it seems like we get a lot of little extra taxes tacked on to the state tax. I’m getting tired of the layers and layers of taxes. I’m not that much of a penny pincher to make to make those types of efforts (leave county to shop) I’m more into convenience like most people, but I’m just getting tired of constant tax increases.”

Lisa Pleasant, Kettering 

“I doubt that it would make me change my shopping habits. I’m going to continue to need the same things that I need, or want the same things that I want. My concern would be: What are they doing with the extra 0.25 percent? Where will I see improvements or changes? I’m still going to have my same needs and I’m still going to have my same wants. It’s not going to prevent me from getting what I need or want.”

Donna Reist, 59, Centerville 

“I don’t appreciate the fact that it’s happened, and I’m surprised when it went through there wasn’t a little more resistance, but in all likelihood it probably won’t change my shopping patterns too much. Unless it was a major, major purchase I can’t see myself taking the time or making the effort to drive extra to offset the cost of the tax increase. It seemed to slip through without a lot of people noticing it. I guess there were hearings about it but they just weren’t advertised very well. There were no advocates I think trying to prohibit it from happening, or not a lot of loud enough advocates anyway. It’s unfortunate, but that’s they way it is.”

Becky Welz, 45, Kettering 

“It will make a little bit of difference, but not a whole lot. Maybe if I was buying something big like furniture, something like that, I might be more conscious of it. But for a quarter percent, probably not. If they are going to use the increase for good and to better everything, I don’t really see why it would be a bad thing. If it’s a benefit for everybody and an improvement in the county, then that little bit will maybe hurt a little for some, but overall, the bigger picture might be a better outlook.”

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