The TIF Illumination Project
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The TIF Illumination Project
SIGN UP FOR ACCESS ON HOME PAGE
Problems With TIFs- The Research
Donate/Support
News
Contact Tom
About Us
Press
Abolish TIFs Now!
TIFs & Social Justice
The Editorial Team
Audio+Video
Chicago TIF Analysis
2024 Chicago TIF Report
Past Chicago TIF Reports
LaSalle Street Bailout
One Story of TIF Kick-Backs
TIF Racial Inequity
Chicago 2022 TIF Briefing & Intern Insights
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Aurora Organizing
Berwyn Organizing
Cincinnati Organizing
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Elmhurst
Franklin Park
Schiller Park
The 27th Ward
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TIP Turns Thirteen
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Behind the Scenes for “TIF 101”
TIF Viewer
TIF = Slush Fund
TIF Legal Challenge
National TIF Illumination Project
Illinois Illumination
Illinois TIF Illuminators Reflect
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Thank You!
Breaking news
★
TIFs Bail Out LasSalle Street Real Estate Titans
★
225th Public Meeting in Aurora!
★
CivicLab CEO’s Statement on Release of Illinois TIF Data
★
Chicago 2022 TIF Report Available!
★
187th TIF Illumination in Pilsen!
★
First Ever All-Illinois TIF Illumination Available!
★
Muckrock Foundation Grant Will Illuminate ALL Illinois TIFs!
★
Get Headlines from 2021 TIF Report
★
Donate/Support
★
2021 Chicago TIF Report Available!
★
Detroit Allies Illuminate TIFs Big Time!
★
2020 Chicago TIF Report Available!
★
183rd Public Meeting Lights Up Evanston TIFs
★
2019 TIF Analysis Available!
★
TIF Demand Front Page News!
★
Great Timeline for Chicago’s TIF Program
★
We Illuminate the TIFs of Cincinnati!
★
77th TIF Meeting a Smash!
★
2018 TIF Analysis Out!
★
34th Ward Illumination A Smash!
★
We Contribute to BGA Expose But Get Snipped From Article
★
How TIFs Averted a Teacher’s Strike
★
Get the Book That Proves “Chicago Is Not Broke”!
★
TIFs of Lake County & Highland Park
★
“Chicago Is Not Broke” Book Crowdfunding Campaign Launched!
★
TIF Basics Revealed On “Nonprofit U” Podcast
★
“TIF 101” Webinar February 2!
★
24th Ward Illuminated
★
21st Ward Illuminated
★
Mayor AND School Board President Are Illuminated!
Todays Date
13 September 2026
Take Action
Get the latest news from The CivicLab & The TIF Illumination Project!
ON JANUARY 1, 2013 THERE WAS $1.7 BILLION IN THE TIF ACCOUNTS. IT’S OUR MONEY. TAKE ACTION NOW!
Rally in Logan Square
– Sunday, August 18 at 4pm.
Details here
.
TIF Town Meeting in Oak Park
– Sunday, August 25th at 2pm.
Details here
.
Sign our online petition
directed to Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Tell him to empty the TIF accounts and send the $1.7 billion in property taxes (that’s how much was in the TIF accounts on January 1, 2012 AND on January 1, 2013 ) to the units of government that SHOULD”VE gotten that money in the first place.
Sign the online petition here
(and pass it on to your friends).
The Chicago Sun-Times agrees
.
Sign the online petition to stop public funds from going to the proposed DePaul Stadium
@
http://tinyurl.com/No-DePaul-Stadium
.
Follow us on Twitter @tifreport
. “Like” us on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/CivicLab
.
Make an investment
. Contribute $10, $25 or even $100 to help hire coders and designers, pay for organizers to deliver TIF trainings in all wards across the city. In 2012 TIFs extracted $457 MILLION from Chicago tax-payers. We are tracking that money and telling you where it came from and where it is going.
Make your non tax deductible investment here
.
Join us at our new home at 114 N. Aberdeen!
Co-work with us. Teach a class or workshop. Host a meeting or event.
More details here
.
Give us feedback.
Volunteer
. If you attended a TIF forum, what was your impression – what did you learn – what would you like to do next? Feel free to heap praise on us. We’re all volunteers, after all 🙂 Would you like to help illuminate TIF projects in your ward? Would you like to organize a TIF forum or training session? Please use the form below.
Here is a record of all the TIF town meetings we’ve done so far
.
The TIF Illumination Project
We’d love your comments, suggestion and offers to collaborate. We have to work together to find out what the city does with the almost HALF BILLION DOLLARS in property taxes it takes from us via the TIF Program every year.
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Copyright 2026 Tom Tresser
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