The AJC reports that the film industry will bring in an estimated $1.3 billion into the state this year, thanks in large part to a our relatively new tax breaks that provide up to 30% tax credits to film companies.

And business-friendly Decatur has become a model of efficiency in getting permits approved and coordinating with the police and fire department to close streets, etc.  The AJC has this testimonial from a veteran location scout, Mark Cortell, who worked on “Mean Girls 2″, which filmed in Decatur over the summer.

“They’ll tell you yes or no,” Cottrell said of the city. “If they say no you can move on. You know where you stand.”

Decatur posts filming rules on the city website and usually requires a production company to obtain just one permit, though it has to work out street closures with the police, said Katie Abel, city special events coordinator. The city has issued 14 permits this year for feature films, TV movies and commercials.

There’s certainly little shock-value in learning that Decatur is going to great lengths to create a smooth process for film companies, so I’m not gonna really pursue that line of discussion.

However, I do think it’s interesting that we get this concrete example of tax cuts benefiting the state economy on the same day it’s announced that Gov-Elect Nathan Deal announced that he favors cutting corporate taxes once he’s in office.

“Whether we like it or not, corporate taxes are a factor in businesses deciding where they’re going to locate, whether they’re going to expand,” he said. “These are jobs that hang in the balance depending on what direction we take.”

Deal was not concerned by comments from several tax council members last week implying that cuts to the corporate income tax would have little effect on job creation.

Which again raises the age-old question: Do tax cuts spur job growth or eliminate vital services?

If there was a blanket answer, which only I knew the answer to, I’d start my own country!

Jonathan Cribbs over at Champion Newspapers recaps Decatur’s recent filming frenzy and offers an explanation for the recent influx of grips, cameramen, directors and celebs.

A newly created up-to-30% state tax credit for films that shoot in Georgia.

Inadvertently, it seems that Decatur has become a major beneficiary of this legislation.  With its close proximity to Atlanta, beautiful locales, and increasingly rare “small town feel”, it looks like the goals of the Strategic Plan are now paying new, unexpected dividends.

I can’t wait for the Decatur Hot Dog joint where all the celebs who have visited have signed, B&W pictures on the wall!