Vermilion voters to decide whether TIF agreements need public approval

VERMILION, Ohio – When Vermilion residents head to the polls next week, they’ll weigh in on a proposed charter amendment that could reshape how the city approves economic development projects.

The measure, a charter amendment brought forward by Concerned Vermilion Citizens, would require that any proposed tax increment financing agreement — a mechanism cities use to redirect future property tax revenue to pay for infrastructure improvements — be put to a public vote.

Tax increment financing, or TIF, is a specialized tool used to spur economic development. According to the Ohio Department of Development, TIF works by designating certain parcels for tax exemption, declaring improvements as serving a public purpose, outlining infrastructure upgrades that directly benefit the identified prop