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Committee considers cap on film-production rebates; sponsor proposes $600,000 per-production limit
Summary
The Rules Committee debated an amendment to the city's film-production rebate program that would cap individual rebates at $600,000 to prioritize smaller productions; supporters said it would generate jobs and local spending, while opponents warned about lost revenue and precedent.
The Rules Committee took up an amendment to the Administrative Code revising the city's film-production rebate program by imposing a $600,000 per‑production cap on rebates from a $1.8 million program budget.
Sponsor said the amendment is intended to prevent a single production from consuming the fund and to direct benefits to lower‑budget, story‑driven films that most directly support local jobs and businesses. "The amendment of the whole today that I'm introducing will impose a $600,000 limit on individual rebates," the sponsor said. Stephanie Coyote, executive director of the San Francisco Film Commission, described recent successful productions filmed in the city and said the change would help keep mid‑ and low‑budget productions local.
Ted Egan of the Controller's office presented an economic impact assessment that estimated the revised program could generate additional jobs and spending by increasing the effective rebate rate. Union representatives supported the measure as a jobs initiative; other supervisors expressed philosophical and budgetary objections, calling it a tax break that reduces city revenue. The committee moved the ordinance to the full board but recorded a committee recommendation of "do not pass" at that stage with the understanding amendments would be considered at the board.
Next steps: The item will appear on the full Board of Supervisors agenda where the per-production cap and implementing definitions will be finalized.
