"Tax Increment Financing in Dubuque: 2010-2025" Utility BillCopyrighted
March 2, 2026
City of Dubuque ACTION ITEMS # 9.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: "Tax Increment Financing in Dubuque: 2010-2025" Utility Bill
Insert
SUMMARY: City Manager providing a copy of the "Tax Increment
Financing in Dubuque: 2010-2025" flyer that will be
distributed with City utility bills from March 12 through April 2.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. TIF Explanation and 15-Year Impact - 2026
Page 936 of 939
40�
$95 million
in TIF has
leveraged
$836 million
in private
investment
TAX INCREMENT FINANCING
IN DUBUQUE: 2010-2025
in 91 projects.
Private Investment to TIF ratio = 9:1
For every $1 of TIF funding, private investors invested $9.
This strong return highlights the value of the City's incentive
program. Public dollars have helped generate major private
investment and job creation.
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is one of the main tools Iowa cities use to
encourage growth. It helps communities in three ways:
• supporting economic development,
• eliminating slum and blight, and
creating housing.
In Dubuque, TIF has been an essential part of the City's nationally recognized success in
attracting private investment and creating jobs in urban renewal districts.
WHAT IS TAX INCREMENT
FINANCING?
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
Step 1: A TIF district is created.
The City of Dubuque creates a TIF district in an area
that needs development or improvements.
Step 2: A starting "base" value is set.
The current property value becomes the "base" value.
Step 3: Regular taxes continue.
Taxes on the base value continue to go to all local
taxing authorities (City, school district, county, etc.) for
the entire life of the TIF district, which typically lasts up
to 20 years in Iowa.
Step 4: Property values grow.
When new buildings are constructed or properties
improve, property values may increase. The increase is
the "increment."
Step 5: The increment funds improvements.
The City can use tax revenue from the increment to
fund projects and improvements in the district.
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
HOW CITIES USE TIF
TO DRIVE DEVELOPMENT
Cities often use TIF to fund public improvement projects or
provide financial assistance for private projects that involve
developing or redeveloping parts of the city. This can
include revitalizing blighted areas, supporting residentirI
development, and boosting economic growth.
Depending on the size of the project, cities may use the
annual tax increment to pay for improvements or may
need to borrow money to finance larger projects,
such as infrastructure (streets, water mains, sewers). ,A
Page 937 of 939
TIF FOR DUBUQUE JOB
CREATION: 2010-2025
From small, local companies to global brands,
TIF has supported a variety of Dubuque
employers over the last 15 years, including:
• Andersen Window & Door
• AY McDonald Manufacturing
• Cottingham & Butler
• Dubuque Screw Products
• Dupaco Community Credit
Union
• Geisler Brothers
• Giese Manufacturing
• Green Industrial Supply
• Hormel
• Klauer Manufacturing
• McCoy Group
• Prairie Farms
• Rite Hite
• Rousselot
• Simmons Pet Food
• Theisen's Supply
• Tri-State Quality Metals
• Unison Solutions
• Universal Tank
• Vanguard Industries
• Woodward
Communications
TIF FOR DUBUQUE
HOUSING CREATION:
2010- 202 5
Green Industrial Supply
$34.5 million in TIF spread across
60 projects leveraged $326 million in
private investments to create nearly
1,500 housing units within the city.
Projects are located throughout the community and ranged in size from 2 units to 201
units, with individual TIF grants ranging from $15,000 to nearly $7 million.
TIF HOUSING REQUIREMENT
By state law, when TIF is used for housing
development:
• Approximately 38% of future tax increment
revenues must be used to support housing for
families earning no more than 80% of the city's
median income.
This helps provide starter housing for
Dubuque's current and future workforc
and our most vulnerable residents, the
elderly and disabled.
Page 938 of 939