July 1, 2024 3:30 a.m.
Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced that counties throughout Oregon, including Douglas, will receive more than $30.1 million in Payments in Lieu of taxes funding for 2024.
A joint release said because local governments cannot tax federal funds, annual PILT payments help to defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services.
Wyden said, “Oregonians cherish our public lands, and we need to make sure local communities have all the tools they need to help improve quality of life and steward our natural treasures”. Wyden said, “These PILT payments are vital to help local governments carry out necessary services like firefighting, search-and-rescue operations, road construction, schools and police protection. I’m gratified to see PILT payments to Oregon are up nearly $3 million over 2023, and I’ll continue to monitor payments to ensure each county gets its fair share”.
Merkley said, “Public lands are a treasure in rural Oregon, but they must not prevent communities from having the resources they need to pay for quality schools, emergency services, and safe infrastructure.” Merkley said, “This federal investment is vital for Oregonian’s communities. I will keep working to protect PILT payments so communities and families across Oregon have the stability they deserve”.
The release said PILT payments are made for tax-exempt federal lands administered by several federal bureaus. Payments are calculated based on the number of acres of federal land within each county or jurisdiction and the population of that county or jurisdiction.
Douglas County will receive $796,153 dollars for its PILT payment. The largest payment went to Deschutes County, which will receive $3,665,271.
A breakdown of all the PILT payments per Oregon county are posted at www.541radio.com
Oregon County
PILT Payment
Total Acres of Federal Land
Baker
$1,576,690
1,016,410
Benton
$168,792
74,430
Clackamas
$786,904
617,455
Clatsop
$7,991
1,578
Columbia
$36,696
10,961
Coos
$662,003
244,052
Crook
$2,073,282
940,461
Curry
$1,072,828
687,737
Deschutes
$3,665,271
1,445,487
Douglas
$796,153
1,659,704
Gilliam
$149,675
45,757
Grant
$846,941
1,765,580
Harney
$1,474,026
4,462,615
Hood River
$291,225
205,855
Jackson
$1,933,487
909,922
Jefferson
$640,626
305,319
Josephine
$1,743,651
714,226
Klamath
$1,070,988
2,232,639
Lake
$1,474,026
3,692,647
Lane
$833,837
1,738,261
Lincoln
$92,572
192,982
Linn
$269,343
561,487
Malheur
$3,536,353
4,299,188
Marion
$108,456
226,094
Morrow
$371,351
150,971
Multnomah
$65,401
82,322
Polk
$137,868
41,984
Sherman
$177,4962
53,762
Tillamook
$65,474
136,490
Umatilla
$1,310,765
420,250
Union
$1,552,674
624,214
Wallowa
$674,117
1,171,213
Wasco
$177,360
220,074
Washington
$46,816
13,984
Wheeler
$144,906
302,080
Yamhill
$79,410
58,758
Total Oregon PILT Payments for 2024
$30,115,454
31,326,859