<\/p>\n
Democratic and Republican senators came together last week to request in a letter to the Senate majority and minority leaders a two-year reauthorization of payments in lieu of taxes and the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act programs.<\/p>\n
The PILT program was established to aid rural areas because counties abundant with federal land cannot collect property taxes from the government. PILT expires at the end of fiscal year 2019, and with the services that it provides to rural areas, like law enforcement, mental health programs and libraries. Lawmakers urged the Senate to consider it in an end-of-the-year package.<\/p>\n
Colorado Sens. Michael Bennet, a Democrat, and Cory Gardner, a Republican, introduced legislation Sept.16 to reauthorize PILT for 10 additional years. In a news release, both said the funds were \u201ccritical\u201d for infrastructure and law enforcement in Colorado towns.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis legislation is a commonsense step to reauthorize the program, so that we can continue to fully fund PILT and meet the needs of our counties,\u201d Bennet said.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gardner echoed that thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important that Congress fully funds this program, which is used for critical services like law enforcement and infrastructure investments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Secure Rural Schools program expired at the end of fiscal year 2018, and lawmakers urged inclusion of the program in any end-of-the-year funding package. The program has served over 775 counties in more than 40 states by helping fund schools, road maintenance and law enforcement, and, the letter said, schools, libraries and jails will close if funding is omitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we work to establish a permanent county payments solution, diversify rural economies \u2026 and ensure that our public lands provide a range of values such as clean water, jobs, grazing opportunities, and wood fiber for local economies, a short-term reauthorization of at least two years is critical \u2026 for counties containing federally owned lands,\u201d the letter stated.<\/p>\n
Reauthorization has received support from Colorado counties. In a news release, Colorado Counties President Mark Roeber called PILT funding \u201cabsolutely critical.\u201d<\/p>\n