RELEASE:
COCHRAN: MISS. COUNTIES RECIEVE $1.98 MILLION FOR PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), chairman of the
Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that counties in
Mississippi will share $1.98 million in 2016 Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT)
funding.
The U.S. Department of the Interior on Wednesday announced the distribution
of 2016 PILT payments to local governments with tax-exempt federal property
within their boundaries. This year’s $1,988,191 award to Mississippi is
$154,248 more than the 2015 payment.
“The Payment in Lieu of Taxes payment is intended to help offset tax revenue
losses in counties with federal properties, including wildlife refuges or
national parks. The counties are free to use the funding to supplement
their general budgets,” Cochran said.
For Mississippi, 73 counties will receive 2016 PILT funding, with the five
largest payments going to Lafayette County ($220,960), Yalobusha County
($171,684), Sharkey County ($140,873), Grenada County ($118,777), and Wayne
County ($86,305).
Annual PILT payments are made for tax-exempt federal lands administered by
the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and U.S. Forest Service. Federal water projects and some military
installations are also considered in PILT payment evaluations.
Cochran is a senior member of the Senate appropriations subcommittee that
funds the Interior Department and PILT program. The Interior and
Environment Appropriations Bill approved by the Senate Appropriations
Committee last week fully funds PILT for FY2017.
6/22/16
Magnolia Tribune
