This week City Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and Nithya Raman introduced a resolution in Council supporting the Governor’s proposal to expand the State’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program.
As a California State Assemblymember, Krekorian authored California’s first film and television production incentive in 2009, to compete with the incentives offered by other states and foreign countries. The program has been expanded over the years, generating over $26 billion in economic activity and directly supporting nearly 200,000 jobs. A recent study found that these tax credits generated more than 24 times as much in economic output, actually increasing state and local tax revenue.
The current program, capped at $300,000 per year, can only cover some of the productions that apply, letting other states attract business that could have stayed here in California. The Governor has proposed raising the cap to $750 million, giving California the highest film production incentive cap in the nation.
Films and TV shows don’t just create jobs for workers in the industry, they generate economic activity throughout the communities where those employees live and work. If you want to keep those jobs here in our community, contact your State Assemblymember and State Senator, who will be voting on this proposal in the next session of the state legislature.
To find your elected representatives at all levels of government, enter your street address at Neighborhood Info.
Be sure to check in again after the New Year, when the East Valley will have two new State Assemblymembers, Nick Schultz and Celeste Rodriguez, as well as two new members of Congress, Laura Friedman and Luz Rivas!