Be My Friend
Follow Blog Island (On Jazz)Mayor gives extra credit - Variety
Bloomberg extends Gotham tax program - by Emilie Pons - Jul. 11, 2006
Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed legislation extending New York's film and TV production tax credit program Tuesday at City Hall.
In May, Bloomberg had announced his intention to extend the program through 2011 as an initiative to support the city's economy.
Move ups the city's available credits to films and TV skeins that shoot the majority of their productions here to $30 million each year from $12.5 million.
The mayor said New York City played host to more than 250 independent and studio films last year, as well as 100 television productions. Thanks to the lure of tax incentives, he added, "The number of shooting days hit an all-time high of 31,570."
Film, Theater & Broadcasting commissioner Katherine Oliver said there'll be "five or six feature films coming into town shortly."
"It may be a little more expensive to film in New York City, but in the end it's about the people who work here," Bloomberg said.
There is an additional $60 million available annually in tax credits for films and TV projects through New York state.