February 17, 2010 - Old Colony Memorial - By Emily Wilcox
PLYMOUTH — Connecticut offers a 30 percent tax credit for filmmakers who opt to shoot in that state. Michigan offers 40 percent.
The Massachusetts Production Coalition contends that, since Massachusetts adopted a 25 percent tax credit for filmmakers who film here, Massachusetts has garnered more than $1 billion in new economic activity.
Now the governor wants to place a cap of $50 million on the tax credit – an action that Rep. Vinny deMacedo, R-Plymouth, and movie experts say will likely kill the industry in this state and send it packing to others with better incentives that don’t change from year to year.
“Just two years ago, the governor expanded the movie tax credit,” deMacedo said. “It’s the inconsistency in tax policy that is most frustrating to business. It sends a terrible message to any industry that we offer tax incentives to.”
