S1175-119

What This Bill Does

The Small County PILT Parity Act changes the population-based limitation used for federal Payments in Lieu of Taxes. Current statutory breakpoints beginning at 5,000 residents are moved down to 1,000, and the bill supplies a new per-resident limitation table for populations from 1,000 through 50,000. In the reported text, the multiplier starts at $325.74 for a population of 1,000 and declines through the listed tiers to $95.55 at 50,000. The measure changes the payment ceiling calculation; actual payments still depend on eligible federal acreage, annual adjustments, and available appropriations under the PILT program.

Who Benefits and How

Counties and other units of general local government with fewer than 5,000 residents gain a population-specific PILT limitation instead of being grouped under the former floor. Rural residents may benefit if higher or more proportionate federal land payments support roads, emergency services, schools, and county administration. Local budget officers gain a clearer statutory table for forecasting.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Department of the Interior PILT office must recalculate payment limits, update systems, and explain the new table to eligible jurisdictions. Federal taxpayers may bear higher payment costs where the revised limits increase awards, while larger local governments may receive a smaller relative share when annual appropriations are insufficient to pay all calculated amounts.

Key Provisions

• Lowers the first PILT population threshold from 5,000 residents to 1,000 residents.
• Establishes a graduated per-resident limitation table for populations from 1,000 through 50,000.
• Requires Interior payment systems to apply the revised population tiers to eligible local governments.