09.23.08
Approximately $200 Million in Federal Funding Heading to Rural Washington
Cantwell Makes Federal Government Meet Century Old Obligation to Rural Counties
Approximately $200 Million in Federal Funding Heading to Rural Washington
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate moved to fulfill a 100 year old deal between the federal government and the rural counties that host our National Forests by reauthorizing the County Payments program and fully funding the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program.U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) secured inclusion of county payments and the PILT program in a larger package that also updates the alternative minimum tax (AMT), supports research and development for U.S. businesses, lowers energy bills for homeowners who make energy efficient improvements to their homes, and extends the state sales tax deductibility.
“The County Payments program is critical for rural communities throughout Washington state,” said Cantwell. “These funds make it possible to help pay for part time county employees and teachers, road maintenance, conservation projects and economic development. Extending the program continues a one hundred year old tradition of providing fair and equitable compensation to communities in forest counties.”
"As representatives for the Washington Timber Counties, Okanagan County Commissioner Bud Hover and I have spent a great deal of time over the last year in Washington, D.C. working on the Secure Rural Schools and County Payments reauthorization," said Skamania Commissioner Paul Pearce. "Senator Cantwell and her staff have been tenacious advocates for our counties throughout the process. Senator Cantwell helped negotiate a formula that protects Washington counties and schools. This gives us time to plan both economically as well as for infrastructure needs. I do not believe that this result could have occurred without her diligence and hard work. Senator Cantwell has worked through this in a truly bipartisan manner. All of us owe her our thanks."
"Having a four-year secure funding proposal does give us a known future upon which to plan for the success of our school district despite serious and significant reduction of federal funding," said Scott B. Pineo, Legislative Representative for the Stevenson-Carson School District in Skamania County.
This package is based upon the same extension Cantwell helped negotiate last year as the program was expiring. Specifically, it includes:
- Reauthorizes the Secure Rural Schools Program, Fulfilling The Promise We Made to Support Rural Counties
- Fully Funds the Payments In Lieu of Taxes Program
- Some rural counties have a very small tax base because Federal lands take up so much of the county.
- These critical funds help pay for part time county employees and teachers, road maintenance, general government services, resource conservation projects, forest service land rescue services, and programs to support economic development.
- This bill provides the funds that fulfill a 100 year old deal between the federal government and the rural counties that host our National Forests.
- Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), which has never been fully funded until now, provides an influx of flexible dollars to counties to make up for the lose of a tax base by the presence of federal land. Washington state would receive approximately $11 million per year.
Below is an estimated break down of what counties would receive in the first year of this extension.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate moved to fulfill a 100 year old deal between the federal government and the rural counties that host our National Forests by reauthorizing the County Payments program and fully funding the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program.U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) secured inclusion of county payments and the PILT program in a larger package that also updates the alternative minimum tax (AMT), supports research and development for U.S. businesses, lowers energy bills for homeowners who make energy efficient improvements to their homes, and extends the state sales tax deductibility.
“The County Payments program is critical for rural communities throughout Washington state,” said Cantwell. “These funds make it possible to help pay for part time county employees and teachers, road maintenance, conservation projects and economic development. Extending the program continues a one hundred year old tradition of providing fair and equitable compensation to communities in forest counties.”
"As representatives for the Washington Timber Counties, Okanagan County Commissioner Bud Hover and I have spent a great deal of time over the last year in Washington, D.C. working on the Secure Rural Schools and County Payments reauthorization," said Skamania Commissioner Paul Pearce. "Senator Cantwell and her staff have been tenacious advocates for our counties throughout the process. Senator Cantwell helped negotiate a formula that protects Washington counties and schools. This gives us time to plan both economically as well as for infrastructure needs. I do not believe that this result could have occurred without her diligence and hard work. Senator Cantwell has worked through this in a truly bipartisan manner. All of us owe her our thanks."
"Having a four-year secure funding proposal does give us a known future upon which to plan for the success of our school district despite serious and significant reduction of federal funding," said Scott B. Pineo, Legislative Representative for the Stevenson-Carson School District in Skamania County.
This package is based upon the same extension Cantwell helped negotiate last year as the program was expiring. Specifically, it includes:
- Reauthorizes the Secure Rural Schools Program, Fulfilling The Promise We Made to Support Rural Counties
- Fully Funds the Payments In Lieu of Taxes Program
- Some rural counties have a very small tax base because Federal lands take up so much of the county.
- These critical funds help pay for part time county employees and teachers, road maintenance, general government services, resource conservation projects, forest service land rescue services, and programs to support economic development.
- This bill provides the funds that fulfill a 100 year old deal between the federal government and the rural counties that host our National Forests.
- Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), which has never been fully funded until now, provides an influx of flexible dollars to counties to make up for the lose of a tax base by the presence of federal land. Washington state would receive approximately $11 million per year.
Below is an estimated break down of what counties would receive in the first year of this extension.
Asotin: $134,407
Chelan: $2,593,388
Clallam: $2,251,038
Clark: $14,219
Columbia: $398,450
Cowlitz: $400,106
Ferry: $878,423
Garfield: $238,525
Grays Harbor: $663,370
Jefferson: $3,036,057
King: $2,101,338
Kittitas: $982,929
Klickitat: $161,581
Lewis: $4,956,725
Mason: $714,114
Okanogan: $2,067,250
Pend Oreille: $1,083,248
Pierce: $758,040
Skagit: $1,220,675
Skamania: $10,227,263
Snohomish: $2,120,720
Stevens: $413,936
Thurston: $3,701
Walla Walla: $6,038
Whatcom: $1,965,470
Yakima: $3,270,686
Total: $42,661,710
Over the four year extension, Washington state will receive:
2008: $42,637,566
2009: $38,373,809
2010: $34,536,428
2011: $24,299,574
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