No TIF district needed for Navistar

Navistar, a company whose revenue was $11.5 billion last year, is agitating for a comparatively tiny $20 million tax increment financing (TIF) district plus $1.5 million from various other government units to help finance their corporate relocation costs.

This Navistar TIF proposal, and all TIF districts, increase government spending and necessarily cause an increase in property taxes. Local businesses have been creating jobs and paying their fair share of taxes to the schools, park districts and municipalities over the years without such special tax incentives. They shouldn't be forced to foot the bill for a company that hasn't yet paid one cent into local government units.

If Navistar wants to be a member of the Lisle community, it should start acting like one and play by the same rules as everyone else. Lisle should nix this special-interest TIF district and other taxpayer funded incentives and only consent to the relocation when Navistar agrees to be on a level playing field with all other local residents and businesses.

Brian Costin

Director of Outreach

Illinois Policy Institute

Chicago