The Budapest district municipalities are losing significant income due to the fact that the state has centrally determined the public space usage fee to be paid in the case of film shoots, rtl.hu has learned.
In the V. district, for example, in the case of shootings not covered by the Film Act, a public space usage fee of HUF 4,675 or HUF 5,455 must be paid per day and per square meter, depending on whether the location is located in a special zone or normal public space. “The user fee determined by District V is therefore more than twice the amount stipulated in the film law, yet the money due to Belváros-Lipótváros is calculated based on the latter,” said Alex Gábor Kovács, mayoral candidate, leader of the opposition Tiéd a Belváros faction.
According to his information, in 2022, District V generated HUF 151 million in revenue, while by November 2023, HUF 98 million was generated due to the occupation of land by film producers, i.e.
in this period, the municipality lost at least HUF 250 million in revenue just because the official price overrode the local tariff.
According to rtl.hu, much less money flows into Józsefváros and Erzsébetváros, as the official fees are lower at non-World Heritage sites. In Józsefváros, HUF 15-25 million, in Erzsébetváros 30-40 million, and in Terézváros 40-55 million are received annually under this title.
According to the Film Act, crews are subject to special rules, so if, for example, they shoot a scene on the street, they do not have to pay the public space usage fee valid in the settlement or district, but they have to pay according to a rate set by the state.
Tags: districts losing lot money due official price film shoots
