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Municipal Tax Increment Financing (TIF)

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Municipal Economic Development
A municipality may elect to provide financial assistance to local economic development projects - from infrastructure improvements to business expansions - by using new property taxes that result from the commercial investment and corresponding increase in property value. The state program that guides and encourages this local economic development activity is called municipal tax increment financing (TIF).

Program Summary
TIF is a tool that permits a municipality to participate in local project financing by using some or all of the new property taxes from a capital investment within a designated geographic district. The municipality has the option of using the "incremental" taxes to retire bonds it has issued for the project, compensate a developer or business for development project costs, or fund eligible municipal economic development activities. TIF districts may be designated for up to 30 years and bonds may be issued for up to 20 years. The designation of a TIF district requires proper notice, a local public hearing, the majority vote of the municipal legislative body, and state approval.

Download the TIF manual
Download TIF guidelines