July 1, 2024 3:30 a.m.
Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced that counties throughout Oregon, including Douglas, will receive more than $30.1 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes funding for 2024.
A joint release said because local governments cannot tax federal funds, annual PILT payments help to defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services.
Wyden said, “Oregonians cherish our public lands, and we need to make sure local communities have all the tools they need to help improve quality of life and steward our natural treasures”. Wyden said, “These PILT payments are vital to help local governments carry out necessary services like firefighting, search-and-rescue operations, road construction, schools and police protection. I’m gratified to see PILT payments to Oregon are up nearly $3 million over 2023, and I’ll continue to monitor payments to ensure each county gets its fair share”.
Merkley said, “Public lands are a treasure in rural Oregon, but they must not prevent communities from having the resources they need to pay for quality schools, emergency services, and safe infrastructure.” Merkley said, “This federal investment is vital for Oregonian’s communities. I will keep working to protect PILT payments so communities and families across Oregon have the stability they deserve”.
The release said PILT payments are made for tax-exempt federal lands administered by several federal bureaus. Payments are calculated based on the number of acres of federal land within each county or jurisdiction and the population of that county or jurisdiction.
Douglas County will receive $796,153 dollars for its PILT payment. The largest payment went to Deschutes County, which will receive $3,665,271.
A breakdown of all the PILT payments per Oregon county are posted at www.541radio.com
| Oregon County | PILT Payment | Total Acres of Federal Land |
| Baker | $1,576,690 | 1,016,410 |
| Benton | $168,792 | 74,430 |
| Clackamas | $786,904 | 617,455 |
| Clatsop | $7,991 | 1,578 |
| Columbia | $36,696 | 10,961 |
| Coos | $662,003 | 244,052 |
| Crook | $2,073,282 | 940,461 |
| Curry | $1,072,828 | 687,737 |
| Deschutes | $3,665,271 | 1,445,487 |
| Douglas | $796,153 | 1,659,704 |
| Gilliam | $149,675 | 45,757 |
| Grant | $846,941 | 1,765,580 |
| Harney | $1,474,026 | 4,462,615 |
| Hood River | $291,225 | 205,855 |
| Jackson | $1,933,487 | 909,922 |
| Jefferson | $640,626 | 305,319 |
| Josephine | $1,743,651 | 714,226 |
| Klamath | $1,070,988 | 2,232,639 |
| Lake | $1,474,026 | 3,692,647 |
| Lane | $833,837 | 1,738,261 |
| Lincoln | $92,572 | 192,982 |
| Linn | $269,343 | 561,487 |
| Malheur | $3,536,353 | 4,299,188 |
| Marion | $108,456 | 226,094 |
| Morrow | $371,351 | 150,971 |
| Multnomah | $65,401 | 82,322 |
| Polk | $137,868 | 41,984 |
| Sherman | $177,4962 | 53,762 |
| Tillamook | $65,474 | 136,490 |
| Umatilla | $1,310,765 | 420,250 |
| Union | $1,552,674 | 624,214 |
| Wallowa | $674,117 | 1,171,213 |
| Wasco | $177,360 | 220,074 |
| Washington | $46,816 | 13,984 |
| Wheeler | $144,906 | 302,080 |
| Yamhill | $79,410 | 58,758 |
| Total Oregon PILT Payments for 2024 | $30,115,454 | 31,326,859 |