The push to bring TV, movie tax incentives back to Wisconsin

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- You don't typically think of Wisconsin as a hotbed for movie making, but that could change under a bill that would offer incentives to the production industry.

Under the proposal, film and tv production companies could receive up to $5 million a year in tax credits.

Wisconsin is one of five states that don't offer these types of incentives, according to the bill's authors state Reps. David Armstrong (R-Rice Lake), Calvin Callahan (R-Tomahawk) and Sen. Julian Bradley (R-Franklin).

The push comes nearly 16 years after then-Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle rolled out the red carpet to the film industry with a lucrative film tax incentive program. The incentives were approved by the Legislature in 2006, and later took effect in 2008.

It helped lure "Public Enemies" to film in Madison, the town of Columbus and other areas of the state.

However, the deal turned out to be a near-total financial wash for the state's economy after an audit revealed "Public Enemies" received $4.6 million in incentives and ended up only generating $5 million in economic activity.

The incentives were eventually rolled back by Republican lawmakers under Gov. Scott Walker's administration, and then eliminated.

Now, the renewed effort comes with a new fee structure.

"We’re leaving money on the table is the bottom line," said Adam Braatz, the executive director of Imagine MKE, a nonprofit arts advocacy and media organization. "When a film production crew rolls into town, studies show they can general up to a quarter million of economic activity, per day."

Imagine MKE serves as the umbrella organization for Action! Wisconsin, a statewide coalition advocating for the bill that would also create a state film office, operated under the Department of Tourism, to help production companies on where to shoot in Wisconsin.

The proposal would also provide credits, up to 25%, on salaries or wages paid to employees with some limitations.

"As a producer, you want to get as much credit as you possibly can because it allows us to hire more crew, and do more things in terms of production, and locations," said Ramon Sloan, executive producer of Swift Motion Pictures.

This effort has also caught the attention of some Hollywood stars. Mark Ruffalo, a Kenosha native, stressed how this opportunity has the potential to stimulate the economy and boost film and TV production.

"Let’s build a thriving film community in Wisconsin," Ruffalo posted on Facebook. "Lots of new good paying jobs, and film companies spending money in communities."

An analysis of the television series “Yellowstone” and its economic impact in Montana showed $730.1 million was spent on a combination of production and visitor spending. It also created more than 10,000 jobs.

The proposal was assigned to the Agriculture and Tourism Committee but has yet to receive a public hearing. The measure is unlikely to advance given lawmakers only have one scheduled session day left this year.

Sen. Bradley admitted the bill is not ready for the big screen yet, but he remains hopeful by having these conversations now that one day the proposal can get across the finish line.

"We have to have further discussions with a lot of the professionals because we want to get it right," Bradley said. "This is the first step in ensuring we have directors and producers in Hollywood looking for other places to shoot.