PILT and Wildfires

PILT and Wildfires

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson just supported the House Interior and Environment Appropriations bill for FY15 during subcommittee consideration.  The bill takes significant steps to protect western interests. Included in the bill is full funding for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), a vital program in the west that ensures communities are adequately compensated for the lack of tax revenue due to the presence of federal land. Simpson spokesperson Nikki Watts explains a benefit for PILT:

 

"Every county in Idaho depends on the federal government meeting its obligations through Payments in Lieu of Taxes.  PILT is essentially the government's property tax on the federal land it owns, and it needs to be paid in full and on time.  

The bill also fully funds wildfire suppression at the 10-year average, an increase of $149 million over last year's levels.  During the subcommittee markup, Congressman Simpson continued to advocate for fixing the flaws in the process of budgeting for wildfire suppression.  Congressman Simpson's separate legislation to end the destructive practice of fire borrowing by treating catastrophic wildfires like similar natural disasters has over 100 cosponsors, including every member of the subcommittee.  The Congressman said we've got to pass this bill if we want to reduce the costs of wildfires in the future.  It doesn't make sense to continue robbing from programs that remove hazardous fuels in order to pay for wildfire suppression.  Hopefully we will be able to get this through Congress this year."

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