NW PILT Payments Increase From 2024

This week, the Department of the Interior announced that more than 1,900 state and local governments across the country will receive a total of $644.8 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes program, better known as PILT.  Here in the Northwest, just over $31 million will go to Oregon’s 36 counties; $42.9 million will be delivered to Idaho’s 44 counties; and Washington will receive $30.5 million for the state’s 39 counties.  For each of the states, this year’s payment is a slight increase over 2024’s numbers. 

PILT Payments Are Intended To Offset Lost Revenue Potential

Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT payments are intended to help defray the costs associated with maintaining community services including firefighting, policing, education, and road construction.  PILT payments are made for tax-exempt federal lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  Payments are based on the number of acres of federal land within each county or jurisdiction, and the population of that area.

Reaction To PILT Payments

“Since PILT payments began in 1977, the U.S. Government, through the Department of Interior, has distributed more than $12.6 billion." noted eastern Oregon Representative Cliff Bentz.  "PILT makes sense, since the Government collects more than $20.7 billion in revenue ANNUALLY from commercial activities on public lands. Millions of acres of federal land are located in Oregon counties, but this land cannot be taxed. Nonetheless, these counties and the people in them shoulder the multitude of costs that benefit this land such as maintaining roads, schools, first responders, law enforcement, and fire protection. This PILT program helps defray some of the cost associated with maintaining these crucial services.” 

“Rural communities shouldn’t have to wonder if they will have the resources they need to pay for essential services and infrastructure,” said Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley. “PILT funds firefighters, law enforcement, schools, and road construction—I will keep working to fully fund PILT so communities and families across Oregon have the stability they deserve.” 

“Oregonians count on these federal investments to provide key support for road and bridge maintenance, public safety including firefighters and law enforcement, and more throughout our state,” said Oregon Senator Ron Wyden. “I’m gratified that Oregon will be receiving more than $31 million this year to strengthen those community priorities, and I’ll keep battling to ensure each county gets its fair share of this longstanding and proven financial lifeline.”

Click Here for a full list of funding by State and county.

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