Publication Date

2005

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Johnson, Donald R., 1941-

Degree Name

Ed.D. (Doctor of Education)

Legacy Department

Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

LCSH

Tax increment financing--Illinois--La Salle County--Case studies; Public schools--Illinois--La Salle County--Finance--Case studies

Abstract

The major purpose of the study was to investigate the financial impact of tax increment financing (TIF) districts on public school districts in LaSalle County, Illinois. The secondary purpose of the research was to establish a list of provisions contained in intergovernmental agreements that could offset a local property tax increment redevelopment project. This descriptive study examined the variables of local property tax revenues and general state aid to determine the impact on school local financial resources caused by TIF. Through document analysis, the research focused on 30 TIF districts affecting 20 school districts located in LaSalle County between the years of 1999 to 2003. Thirty-four intergovernmental agreements identified between school districts and the municipalities/developers were inspected to develop a summary of provisions. Three research questions guided the framework of the study. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that tax increment financing negatively impacted school district local property tax revenues. The amount that the 20 school districts lost access to between the years 1999 to 2003 was $10,572,969. The findings of this study also indicated that, due to the framework of the general state aid formula, the state of Illinois paid more to LaSalle County public school districts with TIFs than would have been necessary if the tax increment assessed valuation of the project had been available to support the funding of the school district. The cost of the redevelopment projects to the state of Illinois during the time frame of this study was $2,000,556. The gain in state aid was not enough to offset the loss of local property tax revenues, and the mechanism of the state aid formula diverted funds that are intended for educational services away from non-TIF school districts to municipal redevelopment projects. A summary of provisions contained in the intergovernmental agreements was included as a part of this study.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [171]-182).

Extent

vii, 221 pages, maps

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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