The Trump Administration will distribute a record amount of money to counties with non-taxable federal land this year. In March, Congress approved an omnibus spending bill that included full funding for the Payment in Lieu of taxes program, better known as PILT.
Last year, Idaho received about $30 million through PILT – this year it’ll get about $36 million.
Idaho County holds the most federal land within its borders, with U.S. Forest Service territory spanning much of the expansive county. Folks there will see nearly $50,000 more in PILT money this year. Neighboring Oregon and Montana will get an even larger increase.
The program was created in the 1970s to help offset lost revenue in counties where the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management control much of the land. The money goes to county services including schools, firefighting and healthcare services.
In addition to PILT funding, rural counties in Idaho will see more money come through the Secure Rural Schools Act, after Congress reauthorized the measure this spring.
Find reporter Frankie Barnhill on Twitter @FABarnhill
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