Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall congratulated 56 rural counties throughout Colorado on receiving more than $27.7 million under the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. The funds will be used to help rural communities that contain nontaxable federal land within their jurisdictions provide critical services, such as police, fire protection and emergency response programs.
“The PILT program is a lifeline for financially-strapped rural counties in Colorado,” Bennet said.“These critical resources support communities that have been stretched thin to make ends meet. I remain committed to passing a long-term extension of PILT to ensure that we continue to make smart investments that create jobs and economic opportunity in our rural communities.”
“The PILT program provides important funds for rural communities throughout Colorado,” Udall said. “These funds create jobs and provide rural areas with services that we count on to maintain our public safety and quality of life. As each of the 56 communities receiving these funds today can attest, Congress needs to extend funding for the PILT program. To do anything less will levy steep costs on rural Colorado communities and their residents.”
Bennet and Udall have been strong advocates for fully funding the PILT program. They most recently joined with 25 other senators in May to push their colleagues to extend funding for PILT. That legislation remains in conference committee.
PILT funds are reserved for local governments whose jurisdictions contain nontaxable federal lands. The PILT program payments compensate these communities for their support and foregoing tax revenue from these federal lands. A full list of funding by state and county is at www.doi.gov/pilt.