Friday, January 17, 2014

Senators seek renewal of PILT funds

Bipartisan letter asks for inclusion in federal Farm Bill


By GREG MOORE
Express Staff Writer

     Idaho Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, both Republicans, joined 14 Democratic senators in sending a letter to the Senate’s Farm Bill conference committee on Wednesday asking for renewal of the Department of Interior’s Payments in Lieu of Taxes program. The fiscal year 2014 omnibus spending bill did not include resources for the program.

     Since 1976, the PILT program has provided money to more than 1,900 counties in 49 states and territories to make up for diminished tax revenues stemming from federal land ownership. In fiscal year 2013, Idaho received $26.3 million in PILT payments, of which $1.74 million went to Blaine County. According to the Idaho Department of Lands, 78 percent of the county’s 2,660 square miles is owned by the federal government.

     In 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act modified the PILT program from a discretionary program subject to annual appropriations to a mandatory entitlement program for five years, until 2012. The program was extended for one more year in 2013.


“We anticipate that they’re going to give us some funding.”

JoLynn Drage

Blaine County clerk


     The payments are dispersed each June.

     “Counties across the country, particularly those containing significant federal landholdings, rely on PILT funds as sizeable percentages of their budgets,” the senators’ letter states. “Many of the same rural counties that rely on programs in the Farm Bill also depend on PILT to sustain their economies and serve their citizens. These dollars help fund essential services like road maintenance, fire departments and emergency medical services.

     “Without an extension of PILT, rural counties will face drastic budget cuts in June and may struggle to fund the most basic of services. In fact, some of these counties may be faced with potential insolvency. The federal government needs to honor the pledge made to our rural counties and fund this program.”

     The letter urged the committee to include a renewal of the PILT program in the final Farm
Bill conference report.

     Blaine County Clerk JoLynn Drage said the county’s fiscal year 2014 budget, which totals $27.5 million, includes $1.74 million in PILT payments.

    “We anticipate that they’re going to give us some funding,” she said. “It would seem really drastic to have this much federal land and not be compensated somehow.”




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