LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Southern Nevada unions signed an agreement with Summerlin Studios and Sony Pictures, guaranteeing thousands of jobs for local trades workers — if Nevada lawmakers pass tax credits in a forthcoming bill.
The Southern Nevada Building Trades Unions supported last session’s legislation and now support both proposals and bills for Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. FOX5 told you how both movie studio bills face the spotlight and scrutiny.
According to Vince Saavedra of SNBTU, the project could provide 10,000 local jobs to workers who have been unemployed for months: construction for major developments across the Las Vegas Valley has slowed down, and juggernaut projects like Brightline have yet to begin.
“There’s no shortage of workers. There’s a shortage in work the workforce right now. The skilled and trained workforce is sitting at home, ready to go to work,” Saavedra said. More than 2,000 workers across more than a dozen represented trades are unemployed, with around 800 in the electrical workers union alone, he said.
SNBTU also signed an agreement with real estate development company Birtcher to build the Warner Bros. campus in the Southwest Valley, though Warner Bros. and Birtcher did part ways on the project.
Saavedra said thousands of jobs would remain consistent after studios are built, as tradespeople would be needed for the constant flows of movie set construction and teardowns.
“We just we want to work here,” Saavedra said. “I think [lawmakers] need to do what needs to be done and bring a whole new industry to Las Vegas,” he said.
The bill for Summerlin Studios, A.B. 238, will be introduced Monday.
Others debate the return on investment for tax credits, or ROI.
For every $1 given in tax credits, how much will the state get back in direct or indirect revenue?
Film productions generate direct revenue for the state from sales taxes and payroll taxes. Productions utilize and hire various other businesses in the community.
Some legislative analysts, insiders and lawmakers express concerns whether the return will be more than the investment or at least break-even and how much each job could potentially “cost” the state.
Other lawmakers share their concerns.
“I look forward to reading through the bill language but on principle – I believe Las Vegas and Nevada are great the way we are, we don’t need to try and be Hollywood 2.0 on the backs of the taxpayers,” said Senate Republican Leader Robin Titus.
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