HOW TAX ABATEMENTS (TAX INCREMENT) WORK

Prepared for:
Texas Taxpayers and Research Association
by Tom Mullins, CED, President/CEO, Tyler Economic Development Council
Last update: 2006

This white paper summarizes the benefits of using tax abatements and tax increment financing to improve overall economic development efforts in a community. Research includes direct and indirect implications to area jobs and investment as well as many of the myths associated with using this tool. An example is provided using the Target distribution project, comparing the effects on the regional tax base since 1997.

THE MARKET FOR PROSPERITY: UNDERSTANDING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Prepared for:
The Texas Economic Development Council
by M. Ray Perryman, PhD, President, The Perryman Group

This paper explains the modern economic development process. When viewed in a broad and appropriate context, many aspects of sound economic development strategy become clearly defined—and many “dos” and “don’ts” unambiguously emerge. Because of the innate uncertainty of the economic development process, it is not possible to be totally prescriptive. Nonetheless, a better understanding of the factors that influence site location decisions provides invaluable insight into both the formulation of economic development policy and in obtaining meaningful rates of return on the investment of scarce public resources.

Sandy Duncan Singer/Actress