Counties receive federal PILT payouts

Federal officials are sending more than $26 million to Idaho counties as part of the government's payments in lieu of taxes program.

So-called PILT payments are designed to help local governments offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable federal lands within their boundaries.

Kootenai County's 2012 share is $565,961 for 241,943 acres.

"PILT payments can used to fund vital services as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations," reports the U.S. Department of Interior on its PILT website. 

This year's PILT payout is the last to be funded under a 2008 federal law.

Congress is considering extending the program.

Each of Idaho's 44 counties is getting some portion of this year's $26.5 million payout. The sum is part of a record $393 million disbursement to local governments nationwide.

In Idaho, Elmore County in the southwest corner of the state got the biggest payment at $2.2 million, while Idaho County in the north-central mountains received $1.5 million.

- Associated Press and staff report