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SANTA FE — A legislative committee has sidelined a proposal to place a cap on a financial-incentives program used to help lure movie projects to New Mexico.

About 250 film industry supporters complained to the Legislative Finance Committee on Saturday that a proposed $30 million cap on tax rebates and other breaks for film productions would hurt an industry that has added jobs and increased spending here in recent years.

The committee voted unanimously to drop the idea of pursuing a bill in the 30-day legislative session that begins Tuesday.

"This is the most successful economic program in the history of New Mexico," Jon Hendry, business agent for the International Alliance of Television and Stage Employees 480, the local union for film technicians, said before the meeting. "Putting a cap on that is putting a cap on success."

Hendry said at least one major film production had canceled its plans to shoot in New Mexico after hearing of the possible change in the incentive program.

Incentives include a 25 percent tax rebate on all production expenditures, a zero percent interest loan for up to $15 million per movie and a work force program that offers additional financial breaks to film companies that employ New Mexico residents.

With the help of the incentives, Lisa Strout, director of the New Mexico State Film Office, said about 85 films and television programs have been made in the state since January 2003, generating about $1.48 billion for the state.

Officials said an independent study should be completed before the Legislature takes up the matter next year.

Sen. John Arthur Smith, a Deming Democrat who chaired the committee meeting, said "The question is, is the program creating the revenue to pay for itself?"

That question wasn't answered during the approximately 40-minute discussion.

Hendry and Eric Witt, the governor's director of legislative affairs and media arts and entertainment development, said both acknowledged that an independent financial study of the program should be done before next year's legislative session.

But until then, they said, the state shouldn't place caps that might lead production companies to go elsewhere.