NACo testifies on priorities for public lands counties

Key Takeaways

On September 9, Commissioner Jerry Taylor of Garfield County, Utah, testified on behalf of NACo before the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations at a hearing titled “Exploring the Economic Potential of the Golden Age of American Energy Dominance.” In his testimony, Commissioner Taylor emphasized the importance of a strong partnership between public lands counties and federal land managers along with the need for action to “help counties like mine sustain vital services, safeguard visitors and steward the lands we all share.” Commissioner Taylor serves as the Chair of NACo’s Public Lands Policy Steering Committee.

Responding to lawmakers’ questions, Commissioner Taylor explored the impact of federal land management decisions in Garfield County. He stressed to Subcommittee Chairman Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and Ranking Member Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) the importance of close collaboration between federal and county governments and urged them to consider how to incorporate county expertise and experience in the decision-making process. 

Commissioner Taylor also reiterated the importance of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program to public lands counties. More than 90 percent of land in Garfield County is federally owned, severely limiting the county’s taxable land and impairing its ability to provide services to local communities – leaving the county with what Taylor described as, “the short end of the stick.” Funding from PILT helps remedy the county’s limited local tax base, and the program is essential for public lands counties across the country. In 2025, Garfield County received $1.2 million in PILT to support transportation infrastructure, emergency response and other government services.

As Congress considers reform to major laws like the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to policy regarding development on federal public land, NACo urges lawmakers to create frameworks for robust partnerships between federal land managers and counties during permitting and resource management decisions.