ALBANY – Officials of the Hudson Valley Film Commission are keeping their fingers crossed that Governor Cuomo will sign legislation to include the Mid-Hudson counties in the same 40 percent film tax credit as counties north and west of Albany.
Right now Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, and Greene counties may offer tax credits of 30 percent to filmmakers. The bill, if Cuomo signs it within 10 days, will add another 10 percent tax credit to help offset the costs of production.
Hudson Valley Film Commission founder and Director Laurent Rejto said
the five boroughs of New York City, Rockland and Westchester benefit by
being in the “film zone” within 30 miles of Manhattan.
“I will give you a perfect example. There was a recent film starring two very big Hollywood actors and the film is supposed to take place at Bard and Vassar (both colleges in Dutchess County),” he said. “They ended up shooting the film at Sarah Lawrence (College in Westchester) because they were able to save that eight to 12 percent.”
Rejto credited Ulster County Executive Michael Hein with “keeping his eye on this legislation and for being the driving force to get the film tax credits into law.” Rejto said Hein has “not only represented Ulster County, but the entire region, in an effort to increase jobs and economic development by fighting on our behalf.”
Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D, Forestburgh) sponsored the bill in the Assembly and Senator George Amedore (R, Niskayuna) carried it in the senate.
