Michigan House Says 'No' To Film Incentives For Next Year

LANSING (WWJ) - The state House has voted to remove, from next year's state budget, Gov. Rick Snyder's proposal to put $50 million toward incentives for filmmakers to shoot in Michigan.

If the budget passes, the program — which gives money to movies, TV and digital productions in the state — would end on Oct. 1 — the end of the current fiscal year.

Supporters of ending the film incentives say the program hasn't created enough jobs to be worth keeping, while advocates — Head of Michigan's Film Office, Jenelle Leonard — it has created good paying jobs and is a model other states are following.

"There are 40 other states that have an incentive, a grant, a credit program of some sort," Leonard said. "In order to be competitive against those other states...if we don't have that, we lose our competitiveness."

Leonard said the overall goal is to provide a sustainable program to assist filmmakers who, in turn, help boost the state's economy.

Leonard said she remains committed to the governor's earlier proposal.

"So when a production company is looking out, and saying, 'Well, where can I invest my money? Where can I put that private investment?' They're not just looking at incentive, they're also looking at the sustainability, because they're trying to plan two and three-years out," she said.

The budget now goes to the Senate for consideration.