AUSTIN— Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation published the policy perspective Why Film Subsidies Fail: A Case Made for Texas by the States.

“The 85th Legislature appropriated $22 million to the Moving Image Industry Incentive Program for the current budget,” said Carine Martinez, policy analyst with the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “As the 86th Legislature is discussing substantially increasing the upcoming budget, subsidies for favored businesses such as cash grants to the film industry should be eliminated—not increased—to reduce spending and provide relief to taxpayers.”

The Texas Legislature established the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program in 2007 and offers rebates of between 5 and 20 percent of a project’s qualifying Texas expenses to film producers.

“Film incentives in Texas have failed to deliver the jobs and economic growth that were originally promised,” said Krista Gehlhausen, research associate at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “The Moving Image Industry Incentive takes money out of the pockets of taxpayers. Additionally, choosing which companies will fail and succeed is not a functional role of government. Texas should end its Moving Image Industry Incentive Program.”

Key Points:

  • Film subsidies don’t produce long-term jobs that are worth the cost.
  • Choosing which film companies will succeed while others fail is not a functional role of government.
  • The elimination of film incentives in Alaska, Michigan, Florida, West Virginia, Arizona, and Iowa should serve as an example for Texas.
  • Texas should repeal the Moving Image Industry Incentive Program.

To read the perspective in full, please visit:
https://www.texaspolicy.com/why-film-subsidies-fail-a-case-made-for-texas-by-the-states/