A pointed Free Press editorial that appeared in November warned against continuing a ludicrous state welfare program that handed cash to the rich Hollywood executives who produce the ABC drama “Nashville.” At that time, state leaders had already given away $7.5 million in handouts to the producers to film portions of the show in Music City, and the producers were pushing the state for millions more.
The editorial argued that state giveaways to movie and television projects did little to benefit taxpayers.
It turns out that the editorial wasn’t nearly critical enough of the state’s Hollywood handouts.
On Monday, the state’s Comptroller of the Treasury released an audit of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission — the agency that passes handouts from the Departments of Revenue and Economic and Community Development to the entertainment industry. It was one of the most damning state audits in recent memory.
In fact, in their recommendations, auditors hinted that the Commission should be shut down — and called for sweeping overhauls to the laws and policies related to the Film Commission and film incentive program if the bureaucracy survives.