Traverse City TIF 97: November 3 Ballot Confirmed. TC Taxpayers for Justice Actively Opposing.
TC Taxpayers for Justice has published the November 3, 2026 ballot date and is in active campaign mode. Their argument: the 2024 charter amendment vote signaled voters want structural change, not a modest redesign. TIF 97 currently generates $4.8–5M per year for Clean and Green, street lighting, the community police officer, and the Sarah Hardy Farmers Market. A 30-year extension at a 70/30 DDA/other-jurisdictions split would yield approximately $3.6M annually to the DDA and $2.3M for capital after core services.
Michigan law bars the city and DDA from actively advocating once the measure is formally on the ballot. The June board vote — targeting completion in the weeks following this publication — is the last public shaping opportunity before the no-advocacy window begins.
Watch: June board vote on revenue split language. The difference between 60/40 and 70/30 is approximately $500,000 per year to the DDA.
Source: TC Taxpayers for Justice; 9and10News.
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