Board discusses privacy concern over TIF report appendix; law department to advise

During other business the Board of Finance discussed a citizen complaint that an appendix to the annual TIF report publicly connected property-owner names with addresses, potentially disclosing private information more directly than standard public land records.

Miss Rogers said the appendix listed property owners and addresses and noted a citizen’s email complaining about the disclosure. Board members asked whether ownership information is legally required to be published in the board report and whether the board could limit public disclosure to commercial owners or owners subject to a potential special tax. Joanne Levin of the law department said she would prepare a written memorandum clarifying when property ownership must be disclosed and when the board could withhold owner-identifying information; she said her initial view was that ownership is generally public record but that discretion may exist over how the board publishes information.

The board agreed to defer any immediate change and asked counsel to provide chapter-and-verse guidance before the next reporting cycle. Staff said the issue will be on the agenda for the next meeting and that counsel’s written opinion will be provided in time for that discussion.