Tax increment financing (TIF) is a public financing tool that uses increased property tax revenue within a designated area for redevelopment projects. TIF advocates believe it helps redevelop blighted areas that would not otherwise see private investment, and thereby increases total economic growth in the area. However, serious concerns exist regarding Texas’ use of TIF.
Taxes & Spending
Assessing Tax Trends in the City of Dallas
Does history suggest that property taxes are too high in the city of Dallas? And, if so, have local decision-makers actively helped or hurt the situation? To help answer these questions, let’s review the city’s 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and gather four types of data—i.e., tax levies, local population, total tax rates, and taxable values—over a 10-year time horizon. Using these audited estimates, we can gauge the growth of government (i.e., tax levy trends), assess its reasonability...
February 18, 2026