2006 Kosmont Rose Institute Cost of Doing Business Survey Executive Summary I. Introduction The 2006 Kosmont-Rose Institute Cost of Doing Business Survey analyzes fees, taxes, and economic incentives and programs in 398 cities nationwide. This year s Survey features 26 new Southern California cities, a more complete and useful Transportation Amenities section, and an updated profile format. The Survey, in its twelfth year of publication and its fourth year as the Kosmont-Rose Institute Cost of Doing Business Survey, offers real estate professionals, businesses, city and county staff, business and economic associations, and others who need to evaluate general business costs and specific project costs or make relocation decisions, the opportunity to compare the cost of doing business in municipalities nationwide. The Survey rates each city as Very Low Cost ($), Low Cost ($$), Medium Cost ($$$), High Cost ($$$$), or Very High Cost ($$$$$). This year s Survey identified 64 Very Low Cost ($) Cities, 79 Low Cost ($$) Cities, 111 Medium Cost ($$$) Cities, 81 High Cost ($$$$) Cities, and 63 Very High Cost ($$$$$) Cities. 1
II. Overview of Major U.S. Cities For the third consecutive year, the highest cost city in which to conduct business is Philadelphia, PA. The Survey s lowest cost city this year is Cheyenne, WY. Chart 1 presents a selection of U.S. cities in each rating category. This chart provides an overview of the types of cities the Survey features as well as what cost ratings these cities receive. Chart 1: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS RATING Major US Cities (Population > 250,000) $$$$$ BALTIMORE, MD BOSTON, MA $$$$ BUFFALO, NY $$$ CHICAGO, IL $$ CINCINNATI, OH $ COLUMBUS, GA EL PASO, TX INDIANAPOLIS, IN KANSAS CITY, MO LOS ANGELES, CA MEMPHIS, TN MESA, AZ ANCHORAGE, AK AURORA, CO AUSTIN, TX CHARLOTTE, NC COLORADO SPRINGS, CO DALLAS, TX MINNEAPOLIS, MN ARLINGTON, TX DENVER, CO NASHVILLE-DAVIDSON, TN LONG BEACH, CA DETROIT, MI NEW YORK, NY MIAMI, FL FORT WORTH, TX NEWARK, NJ MILWAUKEE, WI HONOLULU, HI OAKLAND, CA NEW ORLEANS, LA HOUSTON, TX PHILADELPHIA, PA OMAHA, NE LAS VEGAS, NV SAINT LOUIS, MO PHOENIX, AZ OKLAHOMA CITY, OK SAN FRANCISCO, CA RIVERSIDE, CA ALBUQUERQUE, NM RALEIGH, NC STOCKTON, CA SACRAMENTO, CA CORPUS CHRISTI, TX ANAHEIM, CA SAN ANTONIO, TX TOLEDO, OH SAN JOSE, CA FRESNO, CA ATLANTA, GA SEATTLE, WA TUCSON, AZ SANTA ANA, CA JACKSONVILLE, FL BAKERSFIELD, CA VIRGINIA BEACH, VA WASHINGTON, D.C. TAMPA TULSA, AZ SAN DIEGO, CA WICHITA, KS Chart 2 (page 3) outlines the 2006 Survey s highest-cost major cities (defined as a metropolitan area with over 250,000 residents). These cities, representing different regions in the United States, may or may not share similar tax characteristics. For example, Columbus, OH, New York, NY, and Philadelphia, PA, have relatively low Utility User tax rates, while the rates in Los Angeles, CA, and San Francisco, CA, are much higher. A city with low utility user taxes and extremely high business taxes may receive a high cost rating, and a city with high utility taxes and low businesses taxes may also receive a high cost rating. 2
CHART 2: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS SURVEY Most Expensive Major US Cities PHILADELPHIA, PA CINCINNATI, OH NEW YORK, NY AKRON, OH ROCHESTER, NY Unincorporated ST. CHARLES COUNTY, MO JERSEY CITY, NJ SAN FRANCISCO, CA YONKERS, NY CLARKSBURG, WV NASHVILLE-DAVIDSON, TN PROVIDENCE, RI COLUMBUS, OH NEWARK, NJ MINNEAPOLIS, MN LOS ANGELES, CA INDIANAPOLIS, IN DES MOINES, IA SYRACUSE, NY CHICAGO, IL 2.1434 2.0743 1.9398 1.8727 1.6572 1.6152 1.5934 1.5328 1.5265 1.4962 1.4851 1.4771 1.4645 1.4277 1.4006 1.4004 1.3809 1.3740 1.3481 1.3400 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 Total Index 3
Furthermore, Chart 3 illustrates the Survey s lowest-cost major U.S. cities. Unlike cities with High Cost Ratings, cities with Low Cost Ratings have similar properties of overall low tax rates. CHART 3: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS SURVEY Least Expensive Major US Cities LAS VEGAS, NV COLORADO SPRINGS, CO AURORA, CO FORT WORTH, TX SEATTLE, WA HOUSTON, TX WICHITA, KS DENVER, CO RALEIGH, NC DALLAS, TX AUSTIN, TX HONOLULU, HI VIRGINIA BEACH, VA ANCHORAGE, AK CHARLOTTE, NC OKLAHOMA CITY, OK SAN ANTONIO, TX Unincorporated LAKE CO. Unincorporated MERCED CO., CA DETROIT, MI 0.5234 0.6609 0.6889 0.7152 0.7483 0.7601 0.7696 0.7698 0.7905 0.8046 0.8316 0.8457 0.8620 0.8728 0.8785 0.9036 0.9123 0.9448 0.9456 0.9471 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 Total Index 4
III. Overview of Major California Cities Chart 4 displays a selection of major California cities. Los Angeles and San Francisco rank among the Survey s top-20 most expensive cities in which to conduct business. This year s Survey reveals that California has seven Very Low Cost ($) cities, 69 Low Cost ($$) cities, 88 Medium Cost ($$$) cities, 63 High Cost ($$$$) cities, and 23 Very High Cost ($$$$$) cities. The city of Banning in Riverside County is the least expensive California city in which to conduct business while San Francisco is the most expensive. Charts 5 and 6 (page 6) reveal the most and least expensive California cities. CHART 4: KOSMONT-ROSE INSITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS RATING Overview of California Cities $$$$$ $$$$ FRESNO $$$ LOS ANGELES GARDEN GROVE $$ OAKLAND INDUSTRY CHULA VISTA $ PASADENA LONG BEACH FREMONT ANAHEIM POMONA RIVERSIDE HESPERIA BAKERSFIELD RICHMOND SACRAMENTO LOS GATOS GLENDALE BANNING SAN BERNARDINO SALINAS OCEANSIDE MOORPARK MOORPARK SAN FRANCISCO SAN JOSE OXNARD ONTARIO ROSEVILLE STOCKTON SANTA ANA SANTA CLARITA SAN DIEGO WESTLAKE VILLAGE 5
CHART 5: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS SURVEY Most Expensive California Cities SAN FRANCISCO 1.5328 LOS ANGELES 1.4004 SANTA MONICA 1.2967 OAKLAND 1.2635 CULVER CITY 1.2618 BERKELEY 1.2589 INGLEWOOD 1.2578 COMPTON 1.2440 RICHMOND 1.2110 BELL 1.2099 0.50 0.70 0.90 1.10 1.30 1.50 1.70 CHART 6: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS SURVEY Least Expensive California Cities Unincorporated LAKE CO. 0.9448 Unincorporated MERCED CO. 0.9456 BANNING 0.9504 WESTLAKE VILLAGE 0.9523 ROSEVILLE 0.9533 Unincorporated EL DORADO CO. 0.9558 MOORPARK 0.9568 PERRIS 0.9598 MADERA 0.9599 APPLE VALLEY 0.9604 0.935 0.940 0.945 0.950 0.955 0.960 0.965 6
IV. Overview of Southern California Counties This next section provides a comparison of the most expensive and least expensive major cities in all Southern California counties. This year s Survey includes a total of 166 Southern California cities: 71 in Los Angeles County, 17 in Riverside County, 19 in San Bernardino County, 15 in San Diego County, 28 in Orange County, nine in Ventura County, three in Santa Barbara County, two in Kern County, and one in both Imperial and San Luis Obispo Counties. Of the Survey s Southern California counties, Los Angeles County has the most High Cost ($$$$) and Very High Cost ($$$$$) cities. San Diego County has no High Cost ($$$$) or Very High Cost ($$$$$) cities, while neither Riverside County nor Ventura County have any Very Low Cost ($) cities nor any Very High Cost ($$$$$) cities. San Bernardino and Orange Counties have mostly Low Cost ($$) and Medium Cost ($$$) cities. Los Angeles County Chart 7 compares the surveyed Los Angeles County cities with populations over 50,000. Charts 8 and 9 (pages 8 & 9) illustrate the most and least expensive cities in Los Angeles County. Despite Los Angeles s recent efforts to lower business taxes, the city remains Los Angeles County s most expensive city in which to conduct business. The Survey also pinpoints Los Angeles as the nation s 16 th most expensive and California s 2 nd most expensive city. This year, Los Angeles County has one Very Low Cost ($), five Low Cost ($$) cities, 25 Medium Cost ($$$) cities, 28 High Cost ($$$$) cities, and 12 Very High Cost ($$$$$). Westlake Village, a Very Low Cost ($) city, is Los Angeles County s least expensive city in which to conduct business. CHART 7: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS RATING Los Angeles County Cities (Population > 50,000) $$$$$ $$$$ ALHAMBRA $$$ ARCADIA $$ BELLFLOWER BURBANK 7 BALDWIN PARK CARSON COMPTON DOWNEY DIAMOND BAR EL MONTE GARDENA GLENDORA HAWTHORNE LONG BEACH LAKEWOOD HUNTINGTON PARK MONTEREY PARK LANCASTER INGLEWOOD NORWALK MONTEBELLO LOS ANGELES PICO RIVERA PALMDALE LYNWOOD REDONDO BEACH PARAMOUNT PASADENA TORRANCE SANTA CLARITA CERRITOS POMONA Unincorporated LOS ANGELES CO. SOUTH GATE GLENDALE SANTA MONICA WHITTIER WEST COVINA ROSEMEAD
CHART 8: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS SURVEY Most Expensive Los Angeles County Cities LOS ANGELES 1.4004 SANTA MONICA 1.2967 CULVER CITY 1.2618 INGLEWOOD 1.2578 COMPTON 1.2440 BELL 1.2099 POMONA 1.1847 LYNWOOD 1.1732 EL MONTE 1.1675 HUNTINGTON PARK 1.1671 1.05 1.10 1.15 1.20 1.25 1.30 1.35 1.40 1.45 8
CHART 9: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS SURVEY Least Expensive Los Angeles County Cities WESTLAKE VILLAGE 0.9523 AGOURA HILLS 0.9813 GLENDALE 0.9826 CERRITOS 0.9848 SIGNAL HILL 0.9859 ROSEMEAD 0.9882 LA PUENTE 0.9907 TEMPLE CITY 0.9909 BELL GARDENS 0.9915 SAN DIMAS 0.9917 0.93 0.94 0.95 0.96 0.97 0.98 0.99 1.00 9
Orange County Overall, Orange County is a less expensive area in which to do business. Chart 10 provides an overview of various Orange County cities and their assigned cost ratings. This year s Survey pinpoints three Very High Cost cities ($$$$$) in Orange County, four High Cost ($$$$) cities, four Medium Cost ($$$) cities, 17 Low Cost ($$) cities, and no Very Low Cost ($) cities. Low Cost ($$) Orange County cities typically have lower than average property and business tax rates, and Brea, Anaheim, and Costa Mesa all have populations over 100,000. Chart 11 (page 11) compares the surveyed Orange County cities with populations over 50,000. Charts 12 & 13 (page 12) reveal the most and least expensive Orange County cities. CHART 10: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS RATING Orange County Cities (Population > 50,000) $$$$$ $$$$ $$$ ALISO VIEJO ANAHEIM COSTA MESA FOUNTAIN VALLEY FULLERTON LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE FOREST NEWPORT BEACH ORANGE HUNTINGTON BEACH Unincorporated ORANGE CO. LA HABRA BUENA PARK SAN CLEMENTE IRVINE MISSION VIEJO GARDEN GROVE TUSTIN RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA SANTA ANA WESTMINSTER YORBA LINDA $$ 10
CHART 11: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS SURVEY Orange County Cities (Population > 50,000) RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA IRVINE MISSION VIEJO SANTA ANA LA HABRA HUNTINGTON BEACH WESTMINSTER BUENA PARK GARDEN GROVE SAN CLEMENTE YORBA LINDA ANAHEIM NEWPORT BEACH FULLERTON COSTA MESA FOUNTAIN VALLEY TUSTIN LAKE FOREST ORANGE LAGUNA NIGUEL 1.0884 1.0871 1.0691 1.0633 1.0439 1.0118 0.9901 0.9863 0.9849 0.9824 0.9763 0.9760 0.9736 0.9731 0.9697 0.9696 0.9674 0.9651 1.1437 1.2067 0.90 0.92 0.94 0.96 0.98 1.00 1.02 1.04 1.06 1.08 1.10 1.12 1.14 1.16 1.18 1.20 Total Index 11
CHART 12: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS SURVEY Most Expensive Orange County Cities RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA 1.2067 SEAL BEACH 1.1590 IRVINE 1.1437 MISSION VIEJO 1.0884 SANTA ANA 1.0871 LA HABRA 1.0691 HUNTINGTON BEACH 1.0633 PLACENTIA 1.0478 WESTMINSTER 1.0439 BUENA PARK 1.0118 0.90 0.95 1.00 1.05 1.10 1.15 1.20 1.25 Chart 13: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS SURVEY Least Expensive Orange County Cities LAGUNA NIGUEL 0.9651 LAGUNA HILLS 0.9658 ORANGE 0.9674 SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO 0.9684 LAKE FOREST 0.9696 TUSTIN 0.9697 Unincorporated ORANGE CO. 0.9705 FOUNTAIN VALLEY 0.9731 COSTA MESA 0.9736 FULLERTON 0.9760 0.950 0.955 0.960 0.965 0.970 0.975 0.980 0.985 0.990 12
San Diego County Like Orange County, San Diego County provides a less expensive alternative to Los Angeles County. This year s Survey reveals no Very High Cost ($$$$$), High Cost ($$$$), or Very Low Cost ($) cities in San Diego County. Chart 14 displays the county s three Medium Cost ($$$) and 12 Low Cost ($$) cities. CHART 14: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS RATING San Diego County Cities $$$ CHULA VISTA OCEANSIDE Unincorporated SAN DIEGO CO. $$ CARLSBAD EL CAJON ENCINITAS ESCONDIDO LA MESA LEMON GROVE NATIONAL CITY POWAY SAN DIEGO SAN MARCOS SANTEE VISTA Riverside County & San Bernardino County Cities in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties have comparable statistics to Orange County and San Diego County. This year s Survey included 17 Riverside and 19 San Bernardino County cities. In Riverside County, there are no Very High Cost ($$$$$), six High Cost ($$$$), three Medium Cost ($$$), seven Low Cost ($$), and one Very Low Cost ($) cities. In San Bernardino County, there are two Very High Cost ($$$$$), three High Cost ($$$$), seven Medium Cost ($$$), seven Low Cost ($$), and no Very Low Cost ($) cities. Chart 15 (page 14) includes cities in both counties and indicates each city s designated cost rating. Charts 16 and 17 (pages 14 & 15) provide an overview of the most and least expensive cities in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. 13
$$$$$ CHART 15: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS RATING Riverside County and San Bernardino County Cities $$$$ $$$ ADELANTO BARSTOW $$ APPLE VALLEY $ CHINO CHINO HILLS CORONA COLTON BEAUMONT HEMET FONTANA GRAND TERRACE MURRIETA INDIO HESPERIA ONTARIO LA QUINTA HIGHLAND PERRIS MORENO VALLEY LAKE ELSINORE RANCHO CUCAMONGA NORCO LOMA LINDA Unincorp. RIVERSIDE CO. PALM SPRINGS PALM DESERT SAN JACINTO RIALTO RIVERSIDE REDLANDS TEMECULA SAN BERNARDINO Unincorp. SAN BERNARDINO CO. VICTORVILLE UPLAND BANNING CHART 16: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS SURVEY Most Expensive Riverside and San Bernardino County Cities SAN BERNARDINO 1.1909 RIALTO 1.1703 Unincorporated SAN BERNARDINO CO. 1.1416 LA QUINTA 1.1285 NORCO 1.1182 FONTANA 1.1034 COLTON 1.0969 MORENO VALLEY 1.0899 RIVERSIDE 1.0845 INDIO 1.0736 1.00 1.02 1.04 1.06 1.08 1.10 1.12 1.14 1.16 1.18 1.20 Total Index 14
CHART 17: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS SURVEY Least Expensive Riverside and San Bernardino County Cities BANNING 0.8001 PERRIS 0.9598 APPLE VALLEY 0.9604 HEMET 0.9638 CORONA 0.9670 CHINO HILLS 0.9688 CHINO 0.9689 TEMECULA 0.9702 SAN JACINTO 0.9718 Unincorporated RIVERSIDE CO. 0.9723 0.700 0.750 0.800 0.850 0.900 0.950 1.000 Total Index Ventura County This year s Survey overviewed nine Ventura County cities: Moorpark, Camarillo, Fillmore, Simi Valley, Oxnard, Unincorporated Ventura County, Port Hueneme, and Ventura (San Buenaventura). None of these cities are Very High Cost ($$$$$) cities, and Ventura was the only High Cost ($$$$) city. The three Medium Cost ($$$) cities were Unincorporated Ventura County, Port Hueneme, and Oxnard. The four Low Cost ($$) cities were Camarillo, Fillmore, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks. Moorpark was the only Very Low Cost ($) cities in Ventura County. Chart 18 provides an overview of the surveyed cities in Ventura County. CHART 18: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS RATING Ventura County Cities $$$$ $$$ $$ CAMARILLO $ OXNARD PORT HUENEME FILLMORE SIMI VALLEY VENTURA (SAN BUENAVENTURA) Unincorporated VENTURA CO. THOUSAND OAKS MOORPARK 15
V. Selected Northern California Cities Chart 19 displays a selection of Northern California cities and their assigned cost ratings. This year s Survey included a total of 83 Northern California communities. San Francisco and Oakland rank among the 30 most expensive U.S. cities. High utility, business, and state income taxes explain the high cost cities in Northern California. For example, Berkeley s business, electric, and telephone taxes are over twice the Survey s national averages. Nonetheless, the majority of cities in Northern California receive Medium Cost ($$$) ratings. Charts 20 & 21 (page 17) compare the most and least expensive cities in Northern California. CHART 19: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS RATING Northern California Cities (Population > 70,000) $$$$$ $$$$ $$$ $$ ANTIOCH $ CHICO CITRUS HEIGHTS CLOVIS CONCORD DALY CITY ELK GROVE LIVERMORE FAIRFIELD MODESTO FREMONT REDWOOD CITY FRESNO ALAMEDA SACRAMENTO HAYWARD BERKELEY SALINAS NEWARK REDDING OAKLAND SAN JOSE MERCED SANTA CLARA RICHMOND SAN LEANDRO NAPA TRACY Unincorporated LAKE CO. SAN FRANCISCO SANTA ROSA SAN MATEO VACAVILLE Unincorporated MERCED CO. STOCKTON VALLEJO SUNNYVALE VISALIA ROSEVILLE 16
CHART 20: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS SURVEY Most Expensive Northern California Cities SAN FRANCISCO 1.5328 OAKLAND 1.2635 BERKELEY 1.2589 RICHMOND 1.2110 STOCKTON 1.1626 ALAMEDA 1.1557 EMERYVILLE 1.1409 SACRAMENTO 1.1292 MODESTO 1.1256 MONTEREY 1.1254 1.00 1.05 1.10 1.15 1.20 1.25 1.30 1.35 1.40 1.45 1.50 1.55 1.60 Total Index CHART 21: KOSMONT-ROSE INSTITUTE COST OF DOING BUSINESS SURVEY Least Expensive Northern California Cities Unincorporated LAKE CO. 0.9448 Unincorporated MERCED CO. 0.9456 ROSEVILLE 0.9533 Unincorporated EL DORADO CO. 0.9558 MADERA 0.9599 REDDING 0.9647 ROCKLIN 0.9648 VISALIA 0.9653 TRACY 0.9721 SAN RAFAEL 0.9760 0.900 0.910 0.920 0.930 0.940 0.950 0.960 0.970 0.980 0.990 Total Index 17
VI. Conclusions The 2006 Kosmont-Rose Cost of Doing Business Survey analyzes data from 398 cities in 49 states and Washington, D.C. Analysis of the Survey s data leads to the following observations: Los Angeles County remains one of the most expensive in which to do business both in California and across the country. As both state and city budgets remained strained, cities continue to increase revenues by adding or increasing fees for businesses. Proposed bond measures and infrastructure improvements in Los Angeles have failed to significantly reduce the cost of doing business in the city. 18