Staff proposes pilot film incentive funded from reserves, recommends return with final draft

City tourism staff presented a draft film incentive program aimed at attracting production spending to Broken Arrow and described it as a pilot to be funded initially from reserve funds. The presenter said the state has driven major film-related spending across Oklahoma and that local incentives let cities stack local rebates on top of state programs.

"We have $1,200,000 in our reserve fund," the presenter told the board while explaining that reserves could seed a pilot. The staff recommendation described a standard local rebate approach (10–25% back on eligible local spend), minimum local spend thresholds, and an application that would require receipts and a permit. The presenter noted one sample rule that other communities use: "25% of shooting days must be in Broken Arrow." Staff also proposed a hotel-room incentive — $500 back for every 12 room nights — stackable with the production rebate, and discussed options to reimburse or support temporary production-office space.

Board members asked about caps, measurable outcomes, and marketing. Staff said the state will add the city to its list automatically once a local incentive is adopted, giving instant visibility, and that staff intend to build a locations and services database for scouts. The presenter floated a competitive posture (seeking to be larger than neighboring incentives) and suggested a notional $100,000 allocation from reserves as a possible first-year cap for major projects, while promising a final draft with explicit numbers for the next board meeting and eventual council approval.

No formal funding motion was made; staff asked for direction and said they would bring a final draft for board and council action.