By Catherine M. Welch
Wilmington, NC – Governor Bev Perdue says her staff is working on a list to present to lawmakers showing how much the state's film industry has lost out to Georgia. Perdue says he wants lawmakers to see the list, showing how far North Carolina lags behind Georgia.
The governor made a trip out to Hollywood earlier this year, where she says producers told her that the state's $1 million salary cap is driving films with high-priced stars elsewhere.
"Without the film tax credits changed, North Carolina will continue to lose the juice it has in the film industry and the Hollywood East that we've all called North Carolina will become another state. So the general assembly has to step up."
The governor says she included removing the salary cap in her budget. The film industry says it expects legislation introduced this week for lifting the cap.
Lawmakers opposed to North Carolina's incentives package say Hollywood will never be satisfied with the tax breaks it's given.
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