Tax Increment Financing as a Value Capture Strategy in Funding Transportation

Value capture strategies apply a benefit principle to public infrastructure investment by creating a mechanism to capture the value created by infrastructure improvements. This paper focuses on one value capture strategy, tax increment financing (TIF), which uses future increases in property taxes generated by infrastructure improvements to finance the initial costs of the development. This paper reviews the history of TIF, its extent of use, and its mechanisms. Then it evaluates the applicability of TIF as a revenue strategy based on four criteria: efficiency, equity, revenue sustainability, and feasibility. Finally, it provides recommendations on how to improve and expand the use of TIF.