Interior appropriations moves forward
PILT funding increased; purchaser roads program saved

The Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program (PILT), critical to many public lands counties, is due for a boost in funding in FY98 if Congress and the president accept a deal reconciling differences over House and Senate versions of FY98 Interior Department appropriations.

The agreement would increase PILT funding by $6.5 million, for a total funding level of $120 million.

Hiking PILT funding has been one of NACo's key legislative priorities for a number of years. In 1994, counties were successful in getting a new authorization bill that would provide for a doubling of the acceptable funding levels for the program. Since then, only $12 million has been added in appropriations to the program despite a far higher authorization level.

The conference report, which includes the $6.5 upgrade, must still pass both houses of Congress and the legislation must be signed by the president, but there is no indication that PILT will be a sticking point.

In other action, supporters of public lands counties successfully beat back an effort to eliminate the purchaser road credit program and reduce the timber roads budget by $10 million. By a vote of 51-49, The Senate narrowly defeated an amendment - sponsored by Senator Richard Bryan (D-Nev.) - to eliminate the program and reduce timber road funding.

The House previously reduced the timber roads budget by $5 million and limited the purchaser road credit to $25 million. The differences between the House and Senate will be reconciled in the conference committee.