PILT payments received

By Associated Press and Coeur d'Alene Press staff

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 be 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.

Commissioner Dan Green said the dollars are welcome.

"So much of our land is taken off the tax rolls, because it is on federal land," Green said. "So it is relieving some of the burden of local taxpayers. That's a very positive thing."

County Finance Director David McDowell said the PILT funds were expected, and the payments are a routine event each year.

"They go into the general fund to pay for operations of the county," McDowell said.

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

Congress is considering extending the program.

If the payments were to end, McDowell acknowledged, the county would feel the difference.

"We'd be looking for another half a million dollars in new revenue sources to make up for the shortfall," he said.

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.

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.