[Wonderful Jellal]

The credits are about to roll on Michigan's Hollywood adventure.
In his first budget, issued Thursday, Republican Gov. Rick Snyder proposed eliminating film-industry tax credits, which helped attract television programs like ABC's cop show "Detroit 1-8-7" and movies like "Transformers 3" and "Cedar Rapids." In its place, he proposed a $25 million grant to the state's strategic fund, which promotes economic development and job creation.
Credits that have already been awarded will be honored.
The film-tax credits, enacted by former Gov. Jennifer Granholm as a way to reduce Michigan's reliance on manufacturing, have been described by local officials as a lifeboat for an economy that has been dogged by high unemployment. Michigan's film-tax credit is among the most generous offered by states trying to lure filmmakers away from Southern California.



Michigan Wants to Cut Film-Industry Credits - WSJ.com


A good thing ?

[scolls]

I don't mind backing off the 42% but not a full blown cut. The industry was picking up steam and cutting the credits 10% would've been beneficial to the film industry and Michigan. Snyder's agenda is more to corporate America.

[Retroit]

I'm sick of my government(s) picking winners and losers. Every business should be taxed equally.

[michigan83]

The truth is that the film credits are a good deal for filmmakers, but not for Michigan. If we cut back on the credits to the point where we were actually profiting from the deal, the filmmakers would be gone in a heartbeat. Taxpayers are footing the bill to enable them to make movies here. The joke is on us.

If it was possible to start taxing filmmakers like a normal business at some point in the future and actually gain tax revenue, the deal might make sense. But I get the impression that as soon as we start making money off these people, they are long gone.

[Jwo85]

I posted a link a month or two back from a poll surveyed by the newspaper that asked a handful of Michigan residents and the majority don't support the film tax credit.

[michmoldman]

I dont think the impact on Michigan is THAT great in the first place. I get the feeling the filmakers are just using Michigan, and dont really care if they film here or not...they just want the tax credits. If they really wanna stay...make them pay.

[Wingnatic]

Lets keep in mind all the businesses that support the industry , hotels , catering , and everything else . My son did some '' extra's '' work on The Wannabe's '' in Howell , made $100 a day and out of that $100 came State taxes thats part of that deal , hire a certain % of Michigan residents

[michigan83]

I get the feeling the filmakers are just using Michigan, and dont really care if they film here or not...they just want the tax credits.

I get the same feeling.

[Coldjensens]

While I think it is really neat that they make movies here, and I love going to a movie and saying "I know that place" We really cannot afford to continue to pay them to make movies here. It was a cute game, but not a practical way to revitalize Michigan. The one thing it did is shed some positive light on Michigan for a change. That may have been beneficial. However it cost a lot more than some good commercials would cost. We need to stop copying what other States are trying (especially when it is not working for them) and come up with something new and unique.

[TheEconomist]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

We really cannot afford to continue to pay them to make movies here.

From the article, it seemed like the tax credits were just a way for the business to reduce its taxes. It didn't seem like the state was giving them money.

It isn't giving them money when they wouldn't come to the state in the first place without the reduced taxes. The governor did make a good point though when he said that the whole tax structure needs to be overhauled to made the state more friendly to business. But, low taxes for business is not in any way the public subsidizing business. That is a really antiquated notion that can drive down a whole economy if embraced by a majority.