My thoughts may not be popular, but why should the state fund them (or should I say why should I fund them, I pay taxes)? Will the state be a partner and collect part of the proceeds?
I feel the same way about sports teams. What about the federal government funding research (vaccines and drugs) where the drug company gets to keep all the profits? This goes for any funding. If the people fund it (government), then the people should get part of the profit.
After all, not everyone benefits from a sports team, movies in a state, etc. Why shouldn't they if they fund them?
If businesses want the sports team, the filming of movies, etc. why don't they fund them?
Ok, I may not have a popular view, but after all, they are asking us help fund their big profits. I've never seen my taxes go down because we've got so much business going on from funding these things, but I have seen them go up!
I think the prevailing opinion is that they want to keep the business local. Therefore, by adding incentives, they can ensure that those businesses don't go somewhere else where incentives are offered.
There's a similar issue with most cities having economic development, corporations, or other economic development departments. These entities will give sales tax rebates or some other form of tax incentive to companies to set up shop within the city limits. Sometimes the deal works out and the company is able to collect on the reimbursements. Other times the deal doesn't work out for the company and they forego the incentive as they made more money doing something different than the agreement.
My biggest criticism is that these types of incentives are usually towards companies or people who already have money. If nobody offered incentives, they would still have to choose somewhere to set up the shop. And let's say that a city is poor and doesn't have the resources to give up sales tax, if the company still wants to set up shop, they will without the incentive. Now things are to the point where companies automatically ask for tax incentives just because they know that they can get somebody to budge simply by asking.
Exactly my point. Giving something away doesn't typically help the individual. As an individual you pay your taxes, and you don't get any incentive to live in the area. You give a business an incentive to set up shop, but what does that get an individual? Lower taxes? No. A job? Maybe for a few, since many times they bring their own people (especially for the high dollar jobs). More business for your business? Probably for those in the area, but not all types of businesses.
So, if businesses want another business to come in (or a sports team, or Hollywood), they should pay for the incentive. They are typically the ones who will benefit.
Cities and counties (and the team owners) want us to pay for it their venues. I never lived near the stadium, ballpark, arena, etc. but I had to pay for it. My business didn't benefit from it. I didn't benefit from it. My friends didn't benefit from it (except they could drive the hour to tour the place). My brother's business, where he could see the stadium and ballpark from his office, didn't even benefit from it, other than they had a lot of trouble getting to the office when something was going on.
I guess if states, counties, and cities would just not give incentives, they would choose the best place based on merit only.
Ok, I guess I should stop my rant.