Gov. Paterson and legislative leaders yesterday announced $350 million in tax breaks to keep TV and movie production from fleeing the state.
Paterson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith said yesterday they agreed to extend for a year the program that triples tax credits for filmmakers.
“New York belongs in front of the cameras,” Paterson said. Several hit TV shows — including “30 Rock,” “Gossip Girl” and “Ugly Betty” — took advantage of the 2008 tax credit.
But since the first year’s credit ran out, three TV pilots that were to be shot in New York have relocated to New Jersey or Rhode Island.
Meanwhile, Paterson may approve $20 million in new raises to nearly 13,000 non-unionized state workers despite the ongoing fiscal crisis, The Post has learned.
The raises, initially confirmed to The Post as approved by a top aide to Paterson, would come in the wake of the governor’s unsuccessful effort to convince public-employee unions to give up 3 percent negotiated wage hikes for their 130,000 members because the deficit-ridden state couldn’t afford them.