LANSING, Mich. (WZZM)- A battle over whether to keep Michigan's film incentives is about to begin at the state Capitol.
Tuesday morning, several production workers will rally in Lansing to show legislators that they believe the incentives are worth continuing.
The rally is in response to one legislator from Metro Detroit, who said he plans to introduce a set of bills that would eliminate or phase out some of the incentives.
Here at home, the head of the West Michigan Film Office says that's a bad idea.
"In my 30 year career for the last 25, I have been recruiting films to my community because it makes sense. It makes good economic sense. I've always had one or two movies that come here, but now I have 30 that have shown interest in West Michigan. It's exciting," says Rick Hert of the West Michigan Film Office.
The legislators who have said they want to get rid of the film incentives believe the rebates do not produce long-term results.
Representative Pete Lund (R)-Shelby Township in Macomb County, says its costing tax payers too much money. "We're laying off teachers. We're laying off troopers. The Governor is letting prisoners out of prisons. Meanwhile, the millionaires out in Hollywood are coming here and we're paying 40-percent of their bills in Michigan."
The incentives give the entertainment industry a refundable tax credit of up to 42% for production costs spent in the state.
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