Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, in April called the state's film industry tax policies the “classic bad bet,” adding that he equates movie-making in Massachusetts, and the outflow of tax benefits, with laying off teachers and cutting services.
There is no compelling justification for the commonwealth’s $100-million-a-year subsidy for the film industry, much of which merely underwrites the salaries of rich Hollywood actors. “All the evidence shows that this is a very costly tax credit with minimal economic impact,’’ Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, testified in March.
Even business leaders are starting to question whether the forgone revenue from some of the tax breaks could be better spent elsewhere. “I feel like any time we make a film in Massachusetts we lay off some more teachers,’’ said Michael Widmer of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.
