• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

   

  • About Us
  • Press Room
  • Donate

Research That Works for Kentucky

  • Topics
    • Budget & Tax
    • Criminal Justice
    • Economic Security
    • Education
    • Health Care
    • Jobs & The Economy
  • Types
    • News
    • Op-Ed
    • Research

   

  • About Us
  • Press Room
  • Donate

Copyright © 2021 KyPolicy Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Sitemap

Analysis

Film Industry Tax Breaks Continue to Proliferate Despite Program Suspension

Pam Thomas | April 11, 2018

Since we last wrote in October 2017 about the proliferation of projects under the film industry tax credit, approvals have accelerated at an alarming rate and the cost of the program continues to escalate. Even though new applications were suspended as of February 1, 2018, approvals are still being made because the Kentucky Film Office is working its way through applications received right before the deadline. The office has approved 204 applications that were received in the month of January, many of which were submitted on the last two days before the suspension began.

As illustrated in the chart below, approvals for the 2018 fiscal year are at an astronomical $508 million. Because the program was suspended but companies were given a window in which they could still apply and take advantage of the huge subsidy, an extremely high number of projects were rushed to application and the state approved them.

More On Budget & Tax: Kentucky AG Cameron Sues Biden Administration Over ARPA Restriction on Tax Cut Offsets

In his proposed budget, the Governor recommended that the program suspension be continued through the 2018-20 biennium. However the final version of HB 366 enacted by the General Assembly maintains the program with some changes that will reduce but not eliminate the overall fiscal impact. The tax breaks already awarded will be a drain on resources regardless of what happens moving forward.

The changes include imposing a cap of $100 million per year (the credit currently has no cap) and making the credit nontransferable and nonrefundable. These changes will make the credits less attractive to companies that do not have a Kentucky tax liability and will likely reduce the use of the program. However, continuation of this program in any form is concerning as research shows such programs to be of questionable value, costing much more than any benefits that result. In 2014 and 2015, we warned that film tax breaks were ineffective and expensive, but the state lifted the cap on costs and made the program more generous anyway.

Of additional concern is that the impact on the General Fund as these newly-awarded credits are claimed is not reflected in the revenue estimates used by the General Assembly in enacting the next biennial budget. This means that the revenue estimates used are likely overstated, further reducing the already limited resources available to fund our schools, human services and other important public services.

Updated to include projects approved at April 11, 2018 meeting.

FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail

Primary Sidebar

Get KyPolicy news updates in your inbox

Sign Up

Sidebar

Perspectives

American Rescue Plan Is a Lifeline for Kentuckians

The 2021 General Assembly Can Meet the Moment with Policies that Advance Racial Equity

Letter to the Kentucky House of Representatives on Raising the Inadequate Tax Rate on HHR Slot Machines

Voucher Would Drain Much-Needed Resources from Kentucky’s Public Schools

Coalition Letter to Kentucky General Assembly: End the Tax Break on Slot Machines

Other Budget & Tax Items

Analysis

Governor Should Veto Expensive, Poorly Targeted Tax Breaks for Remote Workers and Data Centers

KY General Assembly American Rescue Plan Appropriations

Analysis

Legislature Spends Additional Federal and General Fund Monies on Session’s Last Day

Analysis

At the Expense of Community Investments, HB 372 Gives a Costly Tax Windfall to High-Income People

Ky. Policy

Footer

Research that works for Kentucky

433 Chestnut Street, Berea, KY 40403

Phone: 859-756-4605

General information and inquiries: info@kypolicy.org

   

Help us make the facts free and accessible to everyone. That’s how Kentucky will thrive.

Donate

  • Topics
    • Budget & Tax
    • Criminal Justice
    • Economic Security
    • Education
    • Health Care
    • Jobs & The Economy
  • Work
    • News
    • Op-Ed
    • Research
  • About Us
  • Press Room
  • Contact

Get KyPolicy news updates in your inbox

Sign Up

Copyright © 2021 KyPolicy Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Sitemap

made by P&P
Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!