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Sen. Salazar's proposal to fully fund PILT passes senateColorado Sept. 24 as part of H.R. 6049, the Tax Extenders Act, the United States Senate passed legislation that fully funds, through 2012, the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program and reauthorizes the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act, also known as the county payment law. The full funding for PILT would nearly double the funding for the program over the President's Fiscal Year 2009 budget request. "From my first day in the United States Senate, I have fought for full-funding of PILT," said Sen. Salazar. "More than one-third of our state--23 million acres--is federal land that is non-taxable for local jurisdictions. That means that almost every county relies on the PILT program to help fund roads, schools, and other vital services. When PILT is underfunded, as it too often is, Colorado communities are left behind. I am pleased that we are passing this bill so that counties across Colorado, from Hinsdale to Jackson, will receive their fair share from Washington." Payment in Lieu of Taxes is compensation for local governments to make up for the presence of federal non-taxable land within their jurisdictions. In 2008, 57 Colorado counties are receiving a combined total of $17,600,691. If the program were fully funded, Colorado counties would likely receive closer to $28 million per year, based on current formulas. Since 1908, the Forest Service has shared 25 percent of certain receipts from National Forests to states (and counties) for public education and county roads purposes. Toward the mid- to late-nineties, however, the principle source of those revenues, federal timber sales, declined by over 70 percent nationwide. Consequently, the corresponding revenues shared with rural counties throughout the country declined precipitously, hurting school and transportation funding. In 2006, 43 Colorado counties received $6.4 million in County Payments. H.R. 6049, the Tax Extenders Act, will now go to the House for consideration. 10/6/08 Date: 10/1/08
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