Posts
Mark Davitt, a State Rep. from Indianola, is proposing tax breaks and incentives for the movie to make films in Iowa. From the Des Moines Register...
A coalition of interested parties are working with Davitt and other lawmakers to craft the legislation. Supporters say they're encouraged that Gov.-elect Chet Culver showed support for the idea during his campaign.This is just corporate welfare going to Hollywood. The story of our tax dollars being given away to wealthy people in the movie industry with the reason being because everyone is doing it. Unlike most movies, this one is surely to end with the little guy getting ripped off.
Iowa has been the centerpiece of a number of Hollywood productions, including hits such as "Field of Dreams" and "The Bridges of Madison County." However, the filming landscape has changed significantly since Canada and many U.S. states began offering filmmakers economic incentives, says Tom Wheeler, manager of the Iowa Film Office in the Department of Economic Development.
"Until everyone has incentives of relatively equal value, then the playing field will always be tilted in favor of those who have aggressive incentive plans," he says. "So, if we want to be in the game, we basically have to get ours, too."
5 comments:
It would be interesting to research whether the theory that a movie being filmed in Iowa generates more revenue than was offered in "incentives." Things like hotel taxes for the cast and crew, sales taxes, tourism revenue certainly add up to something. Maybe ask Dyersville whether Field of Dreams has had much of an impact on the town.
I'm not saying cooperate give aways is necessarily the right answer to every economic development question. There are times, however, when the benefits outweigh the costs.
After watching the City of LeMars bend over backwards to keep Wells Dairy in town, I'm curious, too, as to the cost/benefit ration on this sort of thing...
In the Field of Dreams, it said, "Build it and they will come." It didn't say, "Give tax breaks and they will come."
All of these tax breaks add up and eventually we don't have money to invest in roads, schools, etc.
Well, the tax dollars [i]do[/i] theoretically come in, they just take a different form. For example (using phony numbers), if the choice is to loose $1 million in direct taxation or to loose $10 million a year in property & sales taxes, it's a pretty easy choice to give the company a tax break to stay in town.
Post a Comment