In most cases, if the tax increment financing plan was approved before the 4th Monday in May, the initial year is the year before the year the plan was approved. If the plan was approved after the 4th Monday in May, the initial year is the year the plan was approved.

The 4th Monday in May is when the State Tax Commission adopts final state equalization. This date for recent years has been:

May 23, 1994
May 22, 1995
May 27, 1996
May 27, 1997 (Tuesday, due to holiday)
May 26, 1998 (Tuesday, due to holiday)
May 24, 1999
May 22, 2000