"Wages at the three major TIF-subsidized projects examined in the study are so low as to leave most workers' families unable to provide for basic family needs on their own," the report notes. "At these three projects alone, the estimated self-sufficiency deficit amounts to almost $23 million a year," the report says. "This results either in personal family hardship--extra jobs taking time away from family and community activity, skipped meals, missed payments of bills, unsupervised children--or costs imposed on publicly funded assistance. At the three TIF projects examined, it is estimated that workers are eligible of roughly $10 million annually from various public aid programs."

Nevitt tells GlobeSt.com that he is "frustrated" with the city because he says the problem can be addressed. Many other cities across the country already require a commitment from the developer that it will create jobs meeting certain minimum standards for wages and benefits before they receive TIFs. "The city should also establish a reporting system that allows for tracking the number, wages and benefit structure of the jobs actually created," the report notes. "This would allow the city to estimate the true net economic impact of any development."