Payments in Lieu of Taxes Action Center
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Basic pageThe Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program was created in 1976 and provides payments to counties and other local governments to offset losses in tax revenues due to the presence of substantial acreage of federal land in their jurisdictions.Payments in Lieu of Taxes Action Center
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Payments in Lieu of Taxes Action Center
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The Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program was created in 1976 and provides payments to counties and other local governments to offset losses in tax revenues due to the presence of substantial acreage of federal land in their jurisdictions. As federal land is not taxable by local governments, public land counties have struggled to provide adequate services to the public in light of the annual losses in tax revenue.
Overview
Counties with public lands in their jurisdictions often provide critical services on those lands including law enforcement, search and rescue, fire management, solid waste disposal, and emergency medical services. Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior makes PILT payments to over 1,850 counties in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The federal government owns roughly 635-640 million acres, or 28 percent, of land in the U.S. Approximately 62 percent of counties have federal public land within their jurisdictions. As federal land is not taxable by local governments, PILT provides payments to counties to offset losses in property tax revenues and also to reimburse counties for the critical services they provide on that land.
Even though they are not able to collect property taxes on federal land, county governments must still provide essential services for their residents and those who visit these public lands each year. Such services include road and bridge maintenance, law enforcement, search and rescue, emergency medical, fire protection, solid waste disposal and environmental compliance.
The Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program was created in 1976 and provides payments to counties and other local governments to offset losses in tax revenues due to the presence of substantial acreage of federal land in their jurisdictions.2018-12-21Basic page2022-08-04
The Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program was created in 1976 and provides payments to counties and other local governments to offset losses in tax revenues due to the presence of substantial acreage of federal land in their jurisdictions. As federal land is not taxable by local governments, public land counties have struggled to provide adequate services to the public in light of the annual losses in tax revenue.
Overview
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Counties with public lands in their jurisdictions often provide critical services on those lands including law enforcement, search and rescue, fire management, solid waste disposal, and emergency medical services. Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior makes PILT payments to over 1,850 counties in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The federal government owns roughly 635-640 million acres, or 28 percent, of land in the U.S. Approximately 62 percent of counties have federal public land within their jurisdictions. As federal land is not taxable by local governments, PILT provides payments to counties to offset losses in property tax revenues and also to reimburse counties for the critical services they provide on that land.
Even though they are not able to collect property taxes on federal land, county governments must still provide essential services for their residents and those who visit these public lands each year. Such services include road and bridge maintenance, law enforcement, search and rescue, emergency medical, fire protection, solid waste disposal and environmental compliance.
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Advocacy
PILT Advocacy Toolkit
In this toolkit you will find several useful resources designed to help county officials educate Congress, the administration and the public on the importance of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program -
Policy Brief
Support Continued Revenue Sharing Payments to National Forest Counties
Urge your members of Congress to enact a long-term legislative solution for continued revenue sharing payments to forest counties through the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. Congress reauthorized SRS and removed the annual 5 percent funding reduction through FY 2023 in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (P.L. 117-58) enacted on November 15, 2021. Counties rely on SRS payments to provide numerous critical services including infrastructure, conservation projects, search and rescue missions and fire prevention programs. -
Policy Brief
Provide Full Mandatory Funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program
Urge your members of Congress to support mandatory full funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. Because local governments are unable to tax the property values or products derived from federal lands, PILT payments are necessary to support essential local government services. Unless Congress acts, counties will have received their last fully funded PILT disbursement in 2023. Without mandatory full funding, PILT will remain a discretionary program (subject to the annual appropriations process) and could fall back to pre-2008 funding levels, which would devastate local government service delivery in areas with significant federal land ownership. -
County Profiles
2018 Payments in Lieu of Taxes
61.6 percent of counties have federal land within their boundaries. -
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Blog
NACo testifies on county role in combatting wildfires and forest management at U.S. House Natural Resources Committee hearing
On Friday, August 11, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing titled “Conservation in a Crown Jewel: A Discussion About Wildfire and Forest Management.” -
Blog
USFS announces $250 million for wildfire risk reduction efforts
On July 31, the U.S. Forest Service announced that it is accepting applications for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program. USFS will award up to $250 million in total funding to eligible applicants, including counties, for projects aimed at reducing wildfire risks and safeguarding vulnerable communities. -
Blog
NACo sends letter to Congressional leadership outlining county priorities for 2023 Farm Bill
On March 28, NACo sent a letter to Congressional leadership of the U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Committees calling for the inclusion of key county priorities in the 2023 Farm Bill. -
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County commissioners testify before Congress on county role in public lands management, Farm Bill
On March 8, two county commissioners delivered testimony before Congressional Committees on behalf of the National Association of Counties (NACo). -
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Counties testify on our role in evolving federal land management challenges
Carbon County, Wyo. Commissioner John Espy testifies how counties are best suited to assist federal land managers navigate evolving management challenges. -
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Counties testify on public lands management and the 2023 Farm Bill
Idaho County, Idaho Commissioner Skip Brandt testifies on the county role in public lands management and share recommendations for how the 2023 Farm Bill can strengthen the partnership between counties and our federal partners
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Public Lands Steering Committee
All matters relating to federally-owned public lands including federal land management programs, natural resource revenue sharing payments, payments in lieu of taxes, and property tax immunity concerns.pagepagepage<p>All matters relating to federally-owned public lands including federal land management programs, natural resource revenue sharing payments, payments in lieu of taxes, and property tax immunity concerns.
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American County Platform
The American County Platform is NACo’s permanent policy document. When necessary, it is amended at the annual meeting. Divided into substantive policy areas covered by ten policy steering committees, the platform reflects the philosophy and broad objectives of NACo’s membership.pagepagepage<p>The American County Platform is NACo’s permanent policy document. When necessary, it is amended at the annual meeting.
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2023 Policy Briefs
Check out the updated legislative policy briefs for NACo's ten policy steering committees. In each policy brief, you will find information on the type of action needed on the issue, background information, key talking points and a listing of the Congressional committees of jurisdiction.pagepagepage<p>Check out the updated legislative policy briefs for NACo's ten policy steering committees.
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Government Affairs Staff
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Document
Get Involved: Join a Committee and Make a Difference
Making a Difference for Every County NACo members have the opportunity to serve on 31 committees, caucuses, task forces and advisory boards to inform national policymaking and help solve problems impacting counties, boroughs and parishes.Documentdocument08014:00 pmDocument<h2>Making a Difference for Every County</h2>
Advocacy Resources
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Contact
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Legislative Director – Public Lands | Western Interstate Region(512) 965-7268