The McDonald’s by the Deer Creek Center ( licensed in Webster Groves) closed for renovations last week, with signs posted suggesting customers go to the location in Brentwood (1595 S. Hanley Road).
A commenter on 40 South News Facebook said he paid 26 cents more at the S. Hanley store for the same thing at the Maplewood store. He figured it was ten cents more for the item and 16 cents more in taxes.
See also: Maplewood McDonald’s to close Tuesday, Maplewood McDonald’s closing temporary, corporate says
A check of the two menus shows that prices are comparable, but taxes could be higher at the S. Hanley store because it’s in the Hanley Road Corridor transportation development district (TDD) taxing area.
Prices on selected items before taxes:
Large smoothie
- Both 3.59
Sausage McMuffin with Egg
- Deer Creek 2.69
- Brentwood 2.89
Double Cheeseburger
- Deer Creek 1.69
- Brentwood 1.59
Quarter Pounder with cheese
- Deer Creek 3.69
- Brentwood 3.79
Egg McMuffin
- Both 2.89
Happy meal 4 Pc. McNuggets
- Both 3.49
Fillet O Fish
- Both 3.49
Hanley Road drive-up menu 
Deer Creek McDonald’s drive-up menu
The discussion of TIF’s (Tax Increment Financing), is one of the most misunderstood subjects. It has nothing to do with the taxes merchants OR residents pay. And it nothing to do with the prices merchants charge or their cost of doing business.
It simply allows a developer to continue to pay the real estate tax based on the value of the land and buildings that was in effect before the re-development instead of the higher taxes that ordinarily would be in effect because the redevelopment has raised the value of the land.
Please ask your city’s Development Director to explain it, or see the Wikipedia article “Tax increment financing”.
Here is a link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_increment_financing
Sorry, but you do not have a full understanding of TIFs either. Sales taxes collected by the businesses go to pay the debt used to finance the project instead of going to the Local government.
From MO State Auditor Site…. Local Tax Increment Financing (local TIF) permits the use of a portion of local property and SALES TAX to assist in funding the redevelopment of certain designated areas within their community. For more information, refer to Department of Economic Development – Business and Community Services at http://www.missouridevelopment.org
http://www.auditor.mo.gov/TIF/SearchTIF.aspx
Wikipedia is not a reliable source.
http://www.livescience.com/32950-how-accurate-is-wikipedia.html
missourimarketer please check your facts. I do not believe any of the property associated with the site of Home Depot was subject of a TIF
It’s because of the TIFF that’s been there for years…