According to Cook County Clerk David Orr Chicago’s 163 TIF districts grabbed $454 million in 2011. This is down from the $510 million TIF districts grabbed in 2010. County-wide there are a total of 443 TIF districts. In 2011 they sucked up a massive $729 million in property taxes – $454 million from the city and the balance of $275 million from the 280 suburban TIF districts. Chicago TIF districts have diverted a grand total of $4.5 billion in property tax dollars since they first were introduced here in 1986!
