Staff Writer
Lights, camera, action, jobs.
A legislative measure led by one Duval Delegation member could potentially spur Florida’s economy by attracting the film and entertainment industry.
“It’s all about jobs, jobs, jobs,” said State Rep. Jennifer Carroll.
Carroll sponsored the measure, HB 697, that would create a tax incentive for the film and television industry to come to Florida for productions. In 2005, she said, Florida ranked as the third-highest destination for such companies to bring their business for shoots, she said.
Since then, other states have ramped up incentive measures that have lured them, and their economic-boosting expenditures, away, she said.
The measure would make Florida competitive again, she said, by offering post-production tax breaks of up to 30 percent of expenditures, with companies receiving bonuses for shooting G-rated productions and working in the state during hurricane season.
The measure has passed the House with full support.
The incentives would be granted to companies only after they prove they have retained the goods and services of Floridians during production. Companies must show receipts and documents proving their investment in Florida, such as hiring Florida workers, using Florida lodging and food service and purchasing Florida goods.
All the expenditures would be verified by the Florida Department of Revenue.
“Florida has so much to offer and the demand is there, but other states have recently offered such incentives,” said Carroll.
“There is so much more to this than just an incentive for a company. These companies will be paying bed taxes, spend time in lodging, eat in our restaurants, hire Floridians and do things that will more than make up for the incentive,” she said.
Those affiliated with the entertainment industry, such as attorney Lawrence Najem, believe the measure, if passed, will have an immediate economic benefit.
“It’s a very good thing,” said Najem, with Jacksonville-based Ossi Najem.
The law office specializes in entertainment law among other areas and he’s seen how incentives have lured business from the Florida to aggressive incentive-laden states such as Louisiana, New Mexico and Connecticut in recent years.
“It just made good business sense for them,” he said. “When I saw how much was lost, the numbers were shocking.”
If passed, Najem believes the impact will be immediate and the economic boost could rival those of other states within two to three years.
“It will open the gates for business,” he added.
While some might question the potential for other states to add to their incentives to lure business back in their direction, Najem believes other state lawmakers facing budgetary issues of their own won’t have the industry on its mind.
“I don’t think it will be a top priority for them,” he said. “I think Florida has the chance to be at an advantage.”
After support from the House, the measure was sent to the Senate and is being undertaken by Sen. Mike Haridopolos, said Carroll. She doesn’t expect any roadblocks in its chambers, with the exception of the tax incentives potentially being counted as hard-cash in general budgets. She considers that to be a minor hiccup and is confident it will pass and land on Gov. Charlie Crist’s desk.
One of Carroll’s House colleagues who supports the measure is confident the measure could generate economic impact.
“The entertainment industry gets more and more competitive,” said Rep. Mike Weinstein. “If the State of Florida and Jacksonville want to see more and more of this business landed, we have to compete.”
Carroll said the potential impact for all of Florida hit home recently when she was approached by a small film crew shooting a nonprofit commercial. The crew thanked her for the measure that would potentially allow them to shoot in Florida instead of a more tax-conducive location.
“That’s when I knew,” she said. “It’s not just about the big companies who would benefit. It’s about the smaller ones, too, and all of Florida can benefit.”
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