Montana to Receive More than $35 Million in PILT Funding, Tester Announces

Funds will help counties provide critical services, infrastructure

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced Montana counties will receive more than $35 million in Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds in 2020 to provide critical law enforcement and infrastructure priorities.

“Montana counties rely on PILT funding to balance their budgets and provide critical services,” Tester said. “As local government coffers take a hit during this pandemic, these funds are even more important, and will help counties rebuild schools, plow roads, and hire the law enforcement officers they need to keep their communities thriving.”

PILT makes payments to counties with large amounts of untaxable federal land for services like law enforcement, mental health programs, and libraries. Tester secured $515.7 million in funding for PILT in last year’s government funding bill, and has called on Senate leadership to end start-and-stop payments and find a long-term solution for PILT to continue providing certainty for rural counties that depend on it.

Tester delivered $40 million in PILT funding to Montana counties in 2018, and was the only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation to vote for that funding.