U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced that the Interior Department is distributing $33.4 million to eligible local governments across Alaska through the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which helps offset the costs of maintaining a variety of community services. The PILT program provides annual payments to local governments in the state that contain federal lands that are not subject to state or local taxation. This revenue supports local governments by providing essential services, such as the construction of public schools and roads, firefighting and police protection, and search-and-rescue operations.
Through her role as Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, Sen. Murkowski has helped secure full funding for the nationwide PILT program in FY22. The 2022 payments to Alaskan communities include $3,506,481 for 6,695,445 total acres of land in the Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Sen. Murkowski:
“Over 60% of Alaska’s lands are controlled by the federal government. Federal lands, unlike private lands, are not subject to local taxes, making it difficult for rural communities to budget for essential services. PILT funding is critical in helping boroughs across Alaska keep schools open, people safe, and maintaining economies. As a senior appropriator, I’ve contributed to fund this vital program to provide much-needed stability and protections for communities all across our state.”
Since PILT payments began in 1977, the Interior Department has distributed nearly $10.8 billion to states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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