Will Minnesota's Movie 'Snowbate' Melt Away?
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Some top Minnesota lawmakers are getting ready to call "Cut!" on Minnesota's film board.
And state House Republicans are not only ending the board, they want to abolish the tax rebate incentives called "Snowbate" for production companies to shoot movies and commercials in Minnesota.
Like 49 other states, Minnesota offers a tax rebate of up to 25 percent of film company production costs.
The movie "Wilson" spent $4 million in 3 months of shooting in the state last year.
"It's just like an ATM machine," said Lucinda Winter, the executive director of the Minnesota Film Board. "They come here, and they spend money."
Winter is fighting attempts to abolish the board's $325,000 budget, and eliminate $1.5 million in Snowbate incentives.
She says the uncertainty is causing movie companies to look outside Minnesota for incentives.
"Why would they come here, when they know they can go to Charleston or they can go to Savannah and shoot the movie, and they've got incentives that are stable?" Winter asked.
Since 2013, the film board has certified 142 film projects in Minnesota totaling $50 million.
And not just movies. There's also a booming post-production industry for commercials.
But critics say there's not a big enough bang for the buck.
"It's not about bigger government or smaller government. It's about smarter government," said State Rep. Pat Garofalo, a Republican who chairs the Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy Committee and who says he's looking for more effective ways to generate jobs.
"I have nothing against films. I love films. I love TV shows. I watch TV shows like everyone else," he said. "But in terms of an economic perspective, we can spend less money and incentivize more jobs with other programs."
The film board is currently working on a deal to bring a $6 million production to the state this summer.
Winter says that deal could now be in jeopardy because of indecision at the Capitol, and the possibility there won't be any more incentives.
