In-Lieu Payments To State Total $7.7 Million

The federal government has a program where it shares its revenue from tax-exempt federal lands in the states.

Since Idaho has a lot of federal land, about 32 million acres, it gets a lot of that money. This year the state will rank sixth in payments, with $7.7 million going out to the 44 counties.

Idaho got $8 million last year. New Mexico gets the biggest payment, $11.1 million; followed by California, $11.1 million; Arizona, $9.4 million; Utah, $9.3 million; and Montana, $8.9 million.

Pat Shea, director of the Bureau of Land Management, said the payments in lieu of taxes help local government carry out such vital services as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads and search and rescue operations.

The payments to counties are based on a formula taking into account population and the amount of federal land within a county. The revenue comes from activities such as livestock grazing and timber harvesting.

Elmore County will receive the largest current payment, $612,412. Lewis County’s $5,865 is the smallest.

North Idaho payments:

Benewah, $9,050; Bonner, $43,640; Boundary, $45,649; Kootenai, $172,858; and Shoshone, $117,286