I agree in idea, but look at your logic re "government helping businesses" and apply it to this conversation.

TIF (tax increment financing) creates an artificial tax district around the planned development and locks the tax percentage in at some number- either close to what it would be prior to the development or at some higher number, just capping it before it would rise to true market percentage.

In an underdeveloped area, this is win-win for both. It's a diversion of future taxes that would not have otherwise been created were it not for the increase in value of the land due to the development. Sure, this logic is only correct if the land would not otherwise be developed. (Not sure if Newport uses TIF, and I'd guess the West End OH location would).

Houston Dynamo used a TIF. West Virginia Univ used one for it's baseball complex. Oliver Luck directed both of those movies. Now if the TIF cap lowered the tax percentage below what it was before planning, then your logic absolutely applies. But it's not, and the TIF is giving credit/incentives to develop certain area. It can certainly be used in a way that has the right priorities in order.