The Daily Times: New Mexico senators back federal bill that would permanently fund PILT program

FARMINGTON — New Mexico's U.S. senators are among a bipartisan group of congressional members who plan to introduce a bill that would provide long-term funding for a program that provides revenues to counties throughout the country, including approximately $2.2 million a year for San Juan County.

Since 1976, counties have received millions of dollars from the federal government's "Payment in Lieu of Taxes" program, commonly known as PILT. But since 2012, PILT has been funded on a year-to-year basis and often in the last hours before Congress adjourns.

PILT compensates counties nationally — but mostly those in Western states — for the federal land within their borders that can't be developed or included in property tax collections. The Department of the Interior administers the program.

The uncertain funding makes budgeting difficult for local governments, County Executive Officer Kim Carpenter said. The county plans its budgets for a fiscal year that runs July to June. That means county officials have to estimate how much revenue they expect to get from PILT months before Congress approves the appropriation.

"It's such a volatile source of funding," Carpenter said.

Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, both New Mexico Democrats, announced Thursday that they're joining other congressional members to introduce a bill that would restore PILT's long-term funding, according to a news release.

Three Republican senators supported the efforts as of Thursday, said Udall's spokeswoman, Jennifer Talhelm. They are James Risch and Mike Crapo, of Idaho, and Shelly Moore Capito, of West Virginia, Talhelm said.

The bill was introduced this week, Talhelm said.

Efforts on Friday to reach Risch and Crapo were unsuccessful.

Udall and Heinrich worked successfully with other lawmakers to fund PILT on a single-year basis for 2014 and 2015, and they've advocated for long-term funding.

Only 6.5 percent of all San Juan County's land is in private hands. The rest is tribal, state or federal, according to county documents.

"It's critical to have support from members of the House and Senate," National Association of Counties spokesman Brian Namey said.

PILT and another program that pays counties near national forests provide revenue for more than 62 percent of the nation's counties, he said. The programs help fund services such as police and fire protection for residents, he said.

"The federal government should be responsible for the PILT payment, without question," Carpenter said.