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Burlington Downtown TIF District

Burlington Downtown TIF District

Year Created:  2011
Type:  TIF Plan Approved by VEPC under TIF Authority 32 VSA 5404a(h)
Split of Increment:  Education Fund = 69%/31% and Municipal General Fund = 100/0%

In 2011 the City of Burlington created a TIF District that roughly corresponds to, and is completely within, the boundaries of their Designated Downtown that was originally approved by the State of Vermont in 1998. The TIF Plan was approved by VEPC for utilization of the incremental education revenue under the authority provided by Act 184 (2006).

The intent of the TIF is to support investments in public infrastructure that will enable implementation of the City’s adopted plans and goals by supporting downtown economic, housing, and community investments consistent with the vision of Burlington as articulated in the Burlington Legacy Project Action Plan:

Burlington is at the heart of a regional population and economic center that offers meaningful jobs at livable wages; where a diverse housing stock serves all income levels; with a growth rate that balances jobs and housing; offering high quality arts, entertainment and recreational opportunities of interest and benefit to all residents; with concentrations of higher density, mixeduse development surrounded by residential neighborhoods and open space.

The City plans to use the TIF tool to support public investments including the construction of structured parking, development of roadways and streetscape improvements, Brownfield remediation, utility relocation and reconstruction, and transit improvements.

The base value of the properties in the TIF District was $170 million. The estimated value after the infrastructure improvements and development is projected to be $290 million, for an increase of $120 million.  Burlington estimated the generation of $62 million in incremental property taxes during the 20-year retention period.

During the TIF retention period, a total of $64 million in education property tax revenue (from the base and 25% of the increment) will accrue to the Education Fund. At the end of the retention period, an estimated $4.3 million in additional tax revenue will be generated each year because of the new development. 

On August 31, 2023, the Vermont Economic Progress Council resolved the $1,040,000 Champlain College Development Fee, which should have been deposited into the TIF Fund from fiscal year 2018 through 2021 per VEPC’s approval of the 2020 Substantial Change Request, by adjusting the share of Education Tax increment downward from 75% to 69% beginning with fiscal year 2024.