The link below is a well-written piece of local government journalism.  Rare enough these days!  One community is experiencing a very honest discussion about the impacts, real and perceived, of committing to a long-term economic development strategy.  And no, the "one size fits all" approach of most TIF districts does not yield similar results in every circumstance.  The comment section is worth reading and considering.

Also, see the investigations done by the Chicago Reader on TIFs and this now ten-year old report on Chicago area TIFs. http://www.riversideinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/tif-districts-hinder-growth.pdf

http://www.nwherald.com/2011/02/28/marengo-mulls-tif-districts/asplb4h/