NM Counties to Receive $34.5 Million in PILT Funding for Schools, Roads, Local Police

Udall, Heinrich fought to secure PILT funding after years of uncertainty

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that counties across New Mexico will be receiving more than $34.5 million through the 2015 Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. 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 boundaries, such as Bureau of Land Management land, national parks and forests, and military bases. Local governments use PILT funding to provide police, fire protection, emergency response, road maintenance and other crucial services to residents.

"PILT payments are crucial for New Mexico counties, especially rural communities that depend on this funding for a significant percentage of their local budgets," Udall said. "Unfortunately PILT payments are threatened year after year, but I'm proud to have successfully secured funding for 2015 and plan to continue fighting for a long-term solution. Local communities deserve certainty, especially when it comes to paying for critical services like public safety, schools and roads."

"Rural communities across New Mexico use PILT funds to provide better schools, maintain roads and bridges, and support thousands of local jobs," Heinrich said. "I am pleased that we were successful in securing funding for this year's payments, and I will continue to push for full, permanent PILT funding so our counties have the economic security they need to succeed."

After years of funding PILT inconsistently, Congress in 2008 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 have continued to advocate for a long-term solution. Last December, Udall led a bipartisan coalition, including Heinrich, that successfully extended full funding for PILT into 2015.

According to the Department of the Interior, which administers the PILT program, annual PILT payments are calculated 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, the areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management, those affected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation water resource development projects, and others.

New Mexico PILT Payments for FY 2015

BERNALILLO COUNTY - $184,182
CATRON COUNTY - $571,025
CHAVES COUNTY - $2,806,557
CIBOLA COUNTY - $1,661,376
COLFAX COUNTY - $144,623
DE BACA COUNTY - $99,319
DONA ANA COUNTY - $2,774,846
EDDY COUNTY - $3,111,014
GRANT COUNTY - $1,915,491
GUADALUPE COUNTY - $145,837
HARDING COUNTY - $109,446
HIDALGO COUNTY - $686,943
LEA COUNTY - $986,090
LINCOLN COUNTY - $1,562,805
LOS ALAMOS COUNTY - $78,643
LUNA COUNTY - $1,740,813
MCKINLEY COUNTY - $835,821
MORA COUNTY - $211,971
OTERO COUNTY COMMISSION - $2,859,462
QUAY COUNTY - $4,217
RIO ARRIBA COUNTY - $2,034,319
ROOSEVELT COUNTY - $25,252
SAN JUAN COUNTY - $2,014,292
SAN MIGUEL COUNTY - $754,694
SANDOVAL COUNTY - $2,137,402
SANTA FE COUNTY - $638,200
SIERRA COUNTY - $1,110,841
SOCORRO COUNTY - $1,306,136
TAOS COUNTY - $1,501,471
TORRANCE COUNTY - $299,968
UNION COUNTY - $138,047
VALENCIA COUNTY - $72,718

STATE TOTAL - $34,523,821