Mayor Emanuel Would Freeze TIF Districts in Downtown Chicago

Mayor Rahm Emanuel proposed a plan that would save $250 million for schools and city operations at the cost of one of the city's most powerful funding mechanisms.

1 minute read

July 16, 2015, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Mayor Rahm Emanuel plans to freeze new spending in seven downtown tax increment financing (TIF) districts — and shut those districts down when existing projects are paid off — under a reform policy tailor-made to return hundreds of millions of dollars in sorely needed revenue to government coffers," report Fran Spielman.

The decision would send about $250 million to the city over five years, which would be divvied up between Chicago Public Schools, the city government, and a rainy infrastructure fund. TIF districts are a constant source of controversy in Chicago—pitting political leaders and developers against Chicago Public Schools.

The article by Spielman provides a lot more background on the politics and history of TIFs in Chicago. Greg Hinz also penned an op-ed in response to the plan, calling the idea "beyond risky."

Sunday, July 12, 2015 in Chicago Sun-Times

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