AFP goes on air to blast sports, film incentives

The Florida chapter of Americans for Prosperity is running a new radio ad for the next 10 days, calling on listeners to contact their local representative or state senator to oppose tax breaks for two major industries looking for a break in Tallahassee this year: sports and Hollywood.

The Legislature is contemplating providing a tax incentive plan to lure film, television and digital projects to Florida this year, after an earlier incentive package was exhausted years ago. The proposals range from $50 million to $200 million a year. Though unsuccessful last year, there are great hopes by some legislators (and locally by the Hillsborough County Commission) to replenish the package this year, as Florida continues to fall behind states such as Louisiana and Georgia in luring major Hollywood productions.

There also are several sports venues hoping to get about $9 million in state money this year for their stadium projects.

A recent report produced by state economists showed that some incentive programs, such as money spent on beach restoration or on advertisements aimed at tourists, generate more money for the state than was spent. But it wasn’t so pretty when it came to helping Florida professional teams build or renovate stadiums or maintain spring training baseball.

In three years taxpayers have paid out $48 million to help pay for work on pro stadiums but the investment has resulted in a $14.2 million return for the state.

The state has spent nearly $13 million to help cities and counties with ballparks used for spring training, yet it has yielded only an estimated $1.4 million in return.

The new radio ad will air in over 50 different radio stations across Florida, including in the Tampa Bay region. “We are in all the major markets and trying to make sure that the members of the Legislative Budget Commission hear our message loud and clear,” AFP’s Andres Malave said.

“Florida legislators should be on watch — Americans for Prosperity will not let them off easy for their corporate welfare habit,” said Chris Hudson, Florida state director of Americans for Prosperity. “The evidence is in: The only winners in the sports incentive game are the recipients. Taxpayers lose their money and no significant jobs or tourism is generated. Our lawmakers should be embarrassed for getting caught while stealing bases. Instead, some want to double down and spend even more. AFP will inform Floridians and help them hold their legislators accountable.”

Several powerful legislators back either one or both of the industries (such as  Clearwater’s Jack Latvala). Just how much pressure AFP can bring to bear when it comes to how much support they can gather remains to be seen.