The Business Council of Westchester (BCW) has come out in favor of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul”™s proposal to reverse what was done by former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and restore the tax credits offered for television and film production in the state to 30% of production costs. Cuomo had cut the tax credit to 25% at a time when other states were increasing the tax credits they were offering to the industry. Hochul”™s proposal also raises the total amount the state can give in tax credits for film and TV production and post-production such as editing to $700 million from the current $450 million.
John Ravitz, executive vice president of the BCW said that the tax credit program is creating thousands of new jobs in Westchester County must be extended and expanded.
“The Business Council of Westchester strongly supports the governor for the simple reason that the tax credit has already been enormously beneficial in fostering the film sector in the county and is essential in seeing the trend continue,” Ravitz said. “Other states, including New Jersey, are now offering aggressive incentive packages to steer filmmakers their way. And while New York has unique advantages, if the financial disparity grows too great, the production companies will go elsewhere.”
Ravitz said that recently released data from the Westchester County Office of Tourism and Film show that media production in 2021 in the county generated $1.1 billion in sales, up from $752 million in 2020, and supported 3,784 production and service-related jobs. He said the data show that local governments also benefitted by collecting more than $5 million in sales and hotel occupancy taxes in 2021, and more than $2.4 million in film permit and property rental fees.
“Whether we use economic impact, tax and permit revenues, or workforce development as yardsticks to measure success, New York”™s investment in the film and television production industry has already delivered on all counts for the people of Westchester County,” Ravitz said. “We cannot overstate the economic importance of this burgeoning industry to our county. We all have front row seats to watch the exciting transformation this industry is activating. The BCW calls on our state legislative delegation to support Gov. Hochul”™s proposal to increase the tax credits for film and television productions. This is one show that must go on.”
Ravitz pointed out that Lionsgate Studios, built by Great Point Studios, has been up and running and already is expanding in downtown Yonkers and that Great Point is developing new studio campuses in the southwest and northwest sections of the city. In addition, an Atlanta movie studio developer, Electric Owl Studios, is seeking approval from Hastings-on-Hudson to develop a movie studio complex on 20 acres of the Graham Windham School campus in Hastings, adjacent to the village”™s border with Yonkers.
