SOUTH POINT — The Village of South Point has been ranked first in the state for its low tax and utility rates by an Ohio consulting firm

CDJ Consulting compiled the list of rankings for communities with a population of at least 2,500, based on publicly available property tax, municipal income tax, school income tax, county sales tax, municipal water and sanitary sewer rate data. The results were published on the company’s blog.

An employee of CDJ Consulting, based in Kent, notified Mayor Ron West of the results of the survey earlier this week in an email that appeared to be at least part pitch letter aimed at getting the village to hire the firm to create an economic development profile for it.

“This can be a very positive fact from which to launch economic development efforts,” wrote CDJ employee Charley Bowman to West. “CDJ would be very interested in helping the Village of South Point in developing an economic development profile, which lists South Point as the least costly place in Ohio to do business,” Bowman wrote.

On the company’s blog, the blogger explained the rankings could be helpful to communities looking to attract businesses. “In my discussions with site selectors and LinkedIn discussions, the cost of local taxes and utilities can contribute from 10 percent to 30 percent to a locational decision,” the blogger wrote.

West said the city is not considering hiring the firm but praised the study.

“That makes us a pretty valuable village to live in, if it is all true,” said West, calling their recommendation that the village use the data to attract new business, “a good one.”

“Our eye is on The Point and we work well with Bill Dingus I think our best avenue is to stay with them,” West said referring to the director of Lawrence Economic Development Corporation and the village’s existing industrial park.

Behind South Point in the rankings for other communities with low rates were: Carrollton, Brewster, Wapakoneta, North Ridgeville, Arcanum, Wooster, Bremen, Greenwich, Salem, and St. Henry.

The 10 cities and villages with the highest rates are: Elyria, Dennison, Galion, Youngstown, Twinsburg, Strongsville, Bedford, Wyoming, Port Clinton, and Lancaster.

The blog is available online at http://cdjconsulting.wordpress.com.