Udall, Heinrich Announce NM Counties to Receive $37.7 Million in PILT Payments to Support Schools, Roads, First Responders, Crucial Services in Rural Communities

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that counties across New Mexico will receive more than $37.7 million through the 2016 Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. The total is a $3.2 million increase from the total payments the state received last year, partly due to the advocacy of Udall and Heinrich. A full list of funding by county is included below.

PILT provides federal payments to local governments to help offset losses in property taxes because of nontaxable federal land within their jurisdictions, including national parks and forests, wildlife refuges, Bureau of Land Management land and military bases. Local governments use PILT funding to provide police, fire protection, emergency response, road maintenance and other crucial services to residents.

"I'm proud to fight for the funding that counties throughout New Mexico rely on to deliver critical services, like schools, roads and public safety," Udall said. "New Mexico is proud to host our military bases, national monuments and other facilities that support our economy and generate tourism in our state. But local governments need budget certainty to ensure that all New Mexicans receive consistent basic services. We currently fund PILT year by year, but that isn't good enough, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations committee, I'll continue to work for full, permanent funding to ensure local communities have the economic security they need."

"Rural communities across New Mexico use PILT funds to provide for emergency response, maintain roads and bridges, and support local jobs," Heinrich said. "I am proud that we were successful in securing funding for this year's payments, but we still need permanent funding for PILT. Longterm, predictable funding is incredibly important to counties in New Mexico, and I will continue to push for full, permanent PILT funding so they have the budget certainty they need."

After years of funding PILT inconsistently, in 2008 Congress fully and automatically funded PILT for five years. In a 2012 transportation bill, full funding was extended for another year, leaving the future beyond 2013 uncertain. Udall and Heinrich have successfully secured PILT funding every year since and continue to fight for a long-term solution.

The PILT program is administered by the Department of the Interior. The department calculates annual payments to local governments based on the number of acres of federal entitlement land within each county or jurisdiction and the population of that county or jurisdiction. The lands include the National Forest and National Park Systems, lands in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge System, areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management, areas affected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation water resource development projects, and others.

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