Primer for Counties: Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Programs
Upcoming Events
Related News
The second report of the National Center for Public Lands Counties (NCPLC) provides foundational PILT and SRS program information to public lands counties including brief histories of both programs, detailed “mechanics” of payment administration and county-level issues, and policy considerations for both programs.
As frontline service providers, public lands counties face growing responsibilities with limited revenue. Understanding the complexities of payment allocation requirements is essential to informed decision making. The report also provides examples from five counties across the western United States to illustrate the challenges public lands counties face.
Featured Initiative
National Center for Public Lands Counties
The NACo Center for Public Lands Counties is dedicated to advancing the policy and practice study of America’s public lands counties. Our mission is to deepen the understanding and address the unique challenges faced by counties containing federal lands through strategic research and collaboration.
Related News
U.S. Representatives introduce bipartisan CERTAIN Act to uphold county participation and streamline federal permitting
On April 15, congressional leaders introduced the bipartisan Create Expedited Reviews to Transform American Infrastructure Now (CERTAIN) Act. Led by Reps. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), Andrew Gabarino (R-N.Y.), Adam Gray (D-Calif.), Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), the CERTAIN Act would strengthen county consultation and set actionable deadlines for federal environmental permitting processes.
U.S. Forest Service announces distribution of FY 2025 Secure Rural Schools funding
On Apr. 14, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced the distribution of $230.6 million to counties through the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program for fiscal year (FY) 2025. The funding will support essential local government services in more than 700 counties nationwide. The FY 2025 payments announced by USFS were authorized by the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 (P.L. 119-58).
U.S. Forest Service announces details of major reorganization
On March 31, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced details of a major reorganization of the agency’s offices and management structure. The agency’s new structure comes amid a larger reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which houses the Forest Service.