Tester Announces $31.8 Million in PILT Funding to Support Montana Counties

PILT Payments Will Help Montana Counties Pay for Infrastructure, Law Enforcement, and Local Schools

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced that Montana counties will receive $31.8 million in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) for 2017.

“PILT payments help Montana counties provide critical services and keep a balanced budget,” Tester said. “Local officials will use these resources to builds roads, supports important infrastructure projects, and bolsters local police and fire departments. I know how important PILT payments are to Montana, and I will keep fighting to secure these essential investments for rural communities.”

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester worked with Republicans and Democrats to secure these resources in the federal budget earlier this year.

Tester announced that 55 Montana counties will receive PILT payments this year. PILT payments are awarded to counties with federal lands that are not taxable by local governments, but the lands’ presence creates demands for local government services, such as law enforcement and infrastructure.

President Trump is proposing to cut PILT by 15 percent in his 2018 budget. Tester has called on the Administration to reverse course and fully fund PILT for Montana counties.

A full breakdown of PILT payments by county can be found HERE.