Sometimes you’re the fish, sometimes you’re the bait. Such is the reality for economic development in Maine, where investors and municipalities act as both in the chase for consumer and tax dollars.

The lure du jour is tax increment financing: TIFs. These complex (just ask Poland) and controversial contracts between cities and companies – and approved by the state – are designed to make investment in a community more palatable. Sometimes cities offer a TIF. Sometimes developers ask.

In Auburn this week, plans emerged to redraw the city’s successful infrastructure TIF districts around the Mt. Auburn Plaza. The change, Economic Development Director Roland Miller told the city council, would alter the formula for repaying a $5 million bond for road improvements around the mall.

Instead of 40 percent, the redrawn district would earmark 100 percent of the tax dollars from commercial developments in the plaza towards roadwork. Miller said changine the district to remove Wal-Mart would result in $1 million for the city’s general fund, reducing taxpayer burden.

Taxpayers in Auburn should be pleased with how city leaders have handled TIFs. By designating clear public benefits from the tax break – in Auburn’s case, improved roads or job retention – the city has avoided allegations of making sweetheart deals with wealthy developers or corporations that frequently accompany TIF deals.

The same goes for Lewiston, as, for example, a well-designed TIF district on Lisbon Street has redefined the city’s ‘Southern Gateway.’

Auburn will vote on the redrawn district plan Sept. 25.

Three other Maine cities had TIFs on the table this week. A developer in Saco said a $100 million redevelopment of a vacant mill complex on Saco Island requires a TIF before moving forward, while in Augusta, city councilors feted a TIF deal that sealed a $10 million investment in the Kennebec Armory.

Augusta will return all property tax revenue from project to the developer over the first seven years, and then three-quarters of taxes for the following 18 years, according to the Kennebec Journal. It’s the largest property-tax break in the capital’s history.

Freeport also approved a $17.5 million tax break for a $45 million retail and restaurant development entitled “Freeport Village Center,” in which the developer plans to erect a 550-space parking garage in the center of the town’s shopping district.

Though controversial, TIFs – when used properly – are one of the most effective economic development tools available to municipalities. TIFs go awry, however, when developers use them as leverage against a city to make, or break, their project. Such deals invite controversy, even if the project has promise.

In those cases, cities become fish wriggling on a developer’s line, rather than fishermen who dangle juicy tax-incentive bait for investors. Lewiston and Auburn have thankfully avoided swallowing the hook, so far.

Auburn has fished prudently to spur development with clear public benefits, and has proven the wisdom of using TIFs properly. We urge city councilors to approve the redrawn TIF district.