Casa Grande Dispatch
Pinal County will lose more than a million dollars in “payment in lieu of taxes” funds this year.
The loss is described as a “big blow” to Pinal County in a statement issued by Board of Supervisors Chairman Anthony Smith.
PILT funds are federal payments to local governments that help offset losses in property taxes due to non-taxable federal lands within their boundaries, according to a press release. Arizona received $32.2 million in PILT money in 2013, including $1.1 million to Pinal County.
“This is quite a big hit to Pinal County taxpayers,” Smith said. “It is also a hit to (the) state as well. I am very disappointed that this bill did not include PILT payments.”
Smith said he’s working with the County Supervisors Association and federal lobbyists to bring back the money.
“There is language in this bill that allows further action to be taken to bring back PILT payments,” he said.
“I am hoping that our congressional delegation can work on a bill that will reinstate these needed payments to all Arizona counties.”
