Budget deal doubles Michigan film subsidy to $50 million

[Billy Whitehouse]

By Dawson Bell
Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau

Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative leaders reached a budget agreement for 2012-13 this afternoon that includes a doubling of the state’s annual film subsidies to $50 million for at least one year.

The move comes only a year after the state’s nascent movie program was sharply cut — from an open-ended subsidy of up to 42% of all project costs – out of concern it was becoming unaffordable and an inefficient use of tax dollars. The cuts prompted a steep slide in TV and film activity in Michigan.

Budget Director John Nixon said in a conference call with reporters that the extra money – which became available when state tax revenues increased more rapidly than expected – is not guaranteed over the long term.

There should be “no expectation that it goes beyond 2013,” Nixon said.

Contact Dawson Bell: 517-372-8661 or db...@freepress.com

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