Movie deal too risky for taxpayers - JOAN SCOTT

To the editor:

The owner of Atlanta Film Studios, William Abbate, is soliciting signatures in an online petition, asking the Henry Board of Commissioners (BOC) to have taxpayers back his start-up business loan for $38 million. Mr. Abbate currently controls six hangers at Tara Field in Hampton that he wants to use for film production. His web site -- www.filmstudioforhenry.com -- attempts to reassure us that this will cost the Henry taxpayers nothing, yet it states: "Henry County is basically co-signing with Atlanta Film Studios so that the interest rate charged for the bond financing is 3-5 percent lower, thus lowering the cost, and facilitating the expediency of bringing the film industry to Henry County."