Tax Increment Financing Works
Tax Increment Financing is a very effective but controversial method to help redevelop older areas within a city. It is poorly understood and often unfairly criticized. TIF is not a four letter word.
The Illinois Tax Increment Financing Association http://www.illinois-tif.com/ provides an excellent explanation of TIF. Tax Increment Financing helps communities revitalize older and declining neighborhoods. A District is created following the requirements of the law. The new property tax generated in the new District can be used to assist development in the district, helping the area revitalize.
Case Studies
The City of Peoria has developed 10 TIF Districts. The value of these areas was initially very low. The TIF helped these areas redevelop, and the value of these areas has gone up on average 23% each year, much faster than the city as a whole. Nearby areas without the TIF have had little improvement in value. And of course the redeveloped areas created jobs and vitality.
Depending on the rate of taxation, taxes paid by the new development may be as much as or more than one half of the fair market value of new and redeveloped buildings over the 23 year life of the TIF. The city can provide some or all of that increment back to the developer to help make the project a reality.
TIF Districts incent redevelopers, spurring revitalization of older neighborhoods and increasing jobs. Cities have stimulated substantial new investment through public/private partnerships.
The Illinois Medical Clinic to the right received a 4 million dollar TIF incentive to construct in downtown. The funds helped the developer pay for a parking deck. But for the TIF incentive, this great job and tax producing building would have gone to suburban areas. Instead it helps to revitalize the older central city.
Tax Increment Financing is controversial. But there is no question that it is a great way to build tax base and jobs. The Southtown TIF is the oldest TIF in the City of Peoria and one of the oldest in Illinois. The graph shows that the value of real estate within the TIF grew much faster than the City and School District 150. In 2013, the TIF will be completed, and the tax revenues will go to all the local governments.
The City of Peoria created two new TIF’s in 2007. The areas were very blighted, and growth of jobs and tax base in the areas lagged far behind the remainder of the city.
The chart shows the performance of the two new TIF’s compared to the entire city and the school district. The two new TIF’s have grown much faster than their parent taxing bodies.
Village of Saunemon
TIF is effective in large cities and small villages. The Village of Saunemon created a TIF to assist the development of a gas station and convenience mart. Residents had previously needed to travel a substantial distance to purchase gas and convenience items. The TIF enabled the Village to recruit a developer to bring these needed services to the community,
We believe these numbers support the continued use of Tax Increment Financing. We want our older neighborhoods to thrive and improve, and TIF is one of the best ways to help that process.
More info at:
Illinois Tax Increment Financing Association
TIF Illinois
City of Peoria
Beth Ruyle is a partner in the planning and economic development consulting firm Ruyle Hullinger and Associates. She was the Executive Vice President of Ehlers and Associates, Executive Director of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association for 22 years, and a City Planner with the Atlanta Regional Commission. She can be contacted at 309 966 1616 Bethruyle@gmail.com http://ruhu.com
Craig Hullinger AICP is a partner in the planning and economic development consulting firm Ruyle Hullinger and Associates. He was formerly the Director of Economic Development for Peoria, Village Manager of Olympia Fields, University Park and Minooka, Planning Director for Will County, and a Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. He can be reached at 309 634 5557 craighullinger@gmail.com http://ruhu.com, http://craighullinger .com
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