RYAN'S INITIATIVE TO SAVE STATE'S DISAPPEARING FILM INDUSTRY BUSINESS TAKES BIG STEP FORWARD
NYS Association of Counties Throws Its Weight Behind Effort to Overhaul Lagging Film Tax Credit Incentive Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 11, 2007

Contact: Betsy DeSoye;Director of Communications; (914) 995-3277

County Board Chair Bill Ryan's (D-I-WF, White Plains) fight to make film production in New York competitive with other states received a major boost yesterday when the New York Association of Counties (NYSAC) voted to back the effort.

The NYSAC Board approved Ryan’s resolution calling for the governor and the state legislature "to review and overhaul the State’s system of tax credits with the purpose of making New York State pre-eminent in the entertainment industry again." The resolution said that the state’s “antiquated, noncompetitive tax credit policy" has cost it both film industry jobs and revenues.

NYSAC’s action moves the measure to a prime-time spot on the powerful organization’s Albany lobbying agenda.

Ryan, 2nd Vice President of NYSAC, said that NYSAC's interest in reviving the film industry was more about taxpayers than about New York regaining its long-time position as the east coast motion picture capital of the United States.

"We're constantly looking for ways to relieve the burden on property taxpayers,” Ryan said. “Here's a revenue source worth billions and we're standing by watching it disappear from our state and reappear in neighboring states."

At an earlier NYSAC Board meeting, Ryan presented data comparing New York's tax incentive program with those of Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey. He pointed out that six months into its new tax incentive program, Connecticut reported $52 million in new film production revenue, compared with only $750,000 for the six months prior to the program’s start.

"Clearly New York State has the economic muscle to offer tax credits competitive with these states," Ryan said.

The NYSAC Board represents hundreds of officials from the state's 62 counties. Members indicated their enthusiastic support for the measure on Thursday as it fell squarely into what would be one of the organization's major thrusts in 2008—economic development.

"NYSAC is committed to supporting state policies that encourage new private investment, job creation and business retention by improving New York State's business climate," said Ryan. "Reforming the film tax incentive program and making New York competitive agian will bring the film and TV business back to the state and strengthen our economy."