WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Board of Legislators. January 18, 2008: County Board Chair Bill Ryan (D-I-WF, White Plains) said that Albany needs to take immediate action to give the state and the county a shot at retaining the film industry business which is leaving New York for   neighboring states that have put more competitive tax incentive programs in place to attract the industry. 

As reported in Wednesday's Greenwich Times, the relocation of Blue Sky Studios from White Plains to Greenwich and the expansion of two NBC Universal’s studios/units in Stamford were being hailed by Connecticut state lawmakers as the advent of a ‘Hollywood East’ based in their state.

"The move by Blue Sky Studios highlights a problem that's been obvious for quite some time," Ryan said. "State leaders are not watching this and they need to be. Connecticut put a 30% incentive in place and New York did nothing. We're constantly looking for ways to relieve the burden on property taxpayers. The New York film industry is worth billions in direct and indirect revenues to the state. Because of Albany's inaction, now it will be worth billions to neighboring states' taxpayers instead." 

Ryan 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 start of its program. Ryan said that Massachusetts, like Connecticut, is enjoying increased film industry revenue because it also put a more competitive tax incentive program than New York's in place. 

"The state needs to make our program of incentives competitive again," said Ryan. "Clearly New York State has the economic muscle to reform the tax incentive program and  prevent any further loss to New York taxpayers of the benefits of what was once a thriving industry."

Ryan, 2nd Vice President of the New York Association of Counties (NYSAC), was able to secure the organization's approval of a resolution he introduced 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, non-competitive 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," said Ryan. "The issue falls squarely into what is be one of the organization's major thrusts in 2008—economic development."