Economic Development
Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
How Harrison County uses tax increment financing to pay for roads, utilities and other public improvements that support new development, and the county’s annual TIF reports.
The basics
What is tax increment financing?
Tax increment financing, or TIF, is a way to pay for public improvements such as roads, water and sewer lines, and site work that make new development possible.
Instead of raising taxes, a TIF uses the growth in property tax revenue that the new development creates. The added tax revenue from rising property values inside a defined area, called a TIF district, is set aside to pay for the improvements in that area.
In West Virginia, TIF is governed by Chapter 7, Article 11B of the West Virginia Code (opens in new tab).
Step by step
How a TIF district works
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The district is created
The County Commission proposes a district and a project plan, holds a public hearing, and sends the plan to the West Virginia Development Office for approval. The Commission must find that the project would not reasonably be expected to happen without TIF.
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The starting value is set
The assessed value of all property in the district when it is created becomes the base value. Taxes on the base value keep going to the county, schools and other taxing bodies as usual.
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Development raises property values
As new buildings and businesses are added, the district’s assessed value grows. The regular property taxes on the value above the base, called the increment, go into a special TIF fund for that district.
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The fund pays for the improvements
The TIF fund pays for the approved public improvements, either directly or by repaying TIF bonds. These bonds are paid only from the TIF fund. They are not backed by the county’s general funds.
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The district ends
A district can last up to 30 years. When it ends, taxes on the full value of the property go to all of the regular taxing bodies.
Common questions
Common questions
Does a TIF district raise my property taxes?
No. Property owners inside a TIF district pay the same tax rates as everyone else. A TIF changes where part of the tax on new value goes, not how much anyone pays.
Which taxes go into the TIF fund?
Only regular levy property taxes on the increase in value above the base. Voter-approved excess levies are not included.
Who approves a TIF district?
The County Commission, after a public hearing and approval by the West Virginia Development Office. Other taxing bodies in the area are notified before the hearing.
How can I follow how TIF money is used?
Each year the county files a report on every TIF district with the West Virginia Development Office, due by October 1. State law makes these reports public records and requires them to be posted online. You can find them in Annual reports below.
In Harrison County
Harrison County TIF districts
The county’s annual reports cover these development districts:
| District | Project | Base year |
|---|---|---|
| Development District No. 2 | Charles Pointe Project No. 1 | 2005 |
| Development District No. 3 | White Oaks Project No. 1 | 2007 |
| Development District No. 5 | White Oaks Industrial Project No. 1 | 2012 |
| Development District No. 6 | NCWV Airport Project No. 1 | 2018 |
The most recent annual report has current values, revenues, spending and project status for each district.
Public reports
Annual TIF reports
Reports cover the fiscal year from July 1 through June 30 and are posted after they are filed each fall.
Loading reports…
Looking for an older report that is not listed? Submit a public records request or call the Commission Office at (304) 624-8500.