Michigan Paying $860 Million In Select Tax Incentives, Subsidies

The state of Michigan is expected to pay $860 million for economic development credits and programs in fiscal year 2014 and most of that money is slated for politically favored business such as Hollywood's movie industry, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.

"The spending we are doing on economic development is large," said James Hohman, assistant director of fiscal policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. "And the majority of these expenses are for decisions made years ago. The state shouldn't be in the business of awarding tax money to favored industries."

Michigan could certainly use that money. Gov. Rick Snyder has requested $1.2 billion in road funding and drivers across the state are dodging potholes on well-worn roads.

Michigan has set aside the $860 million to pay subsidies the state agreed to mostly when former Gov. Jennifer Granholm was in office. In fact, $638 million of the total $860 million are from Granholm-era deals, largely in the form of select tax incentives.

The subsidies and grants also come from state programs such as the Michigan film incentive program, which reimburses movie producers for expenses while filming in Michigan. According to the state treasury, Michigan has devoted nearly $450 million in those incentives through 2014.

While movie incentives are usually over within a year after the film is released, some other deals end up costing taxpayers and the state for years.

For example, the state agreed to give Picometrix Inc. a tax credit worth an estimated $6.8 million in 2001 to expand its operations in Ann Arbor, according to a press release. State taxpayers were still paying off Picometrix tax credits in 2013. Picometrix makes high-speed optical sensing devices.

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See also:

CapCon Coverage of Michigan's Select Subsidy Programs

Commentary: There Is No Good Reason the MEDC Should Exist

A Bipartisan Disaster: Michigan Corporate Welfare Program Rolls On

Corporate Welfare Hype Yields Few Economic Results

Lawmakers Poised To Continue Corporate Welfare Fund

Despite Lack of Jobs and Repeated Program Promises, Legislature Proposes Expansion of Corporate Welfare Program

Pressure Mounting For MEDC Transparency