North Olympic Peninsula counties have received a combined $1.13 million from a federal program that helps offset lost property tax revenue because of the presence of federal lands.
Clallam County was awarded $488,960 in the 2012 Payments in Lieu of Taxes program, the U.S. Department of Interior said Thursday.
The allotment was based on 519,238 acres of federal land in Clallam County.
Jefferson County received $641,500 based on 703,306 acres of federal land.
Chief administrators in both counties said the payments were significantly more than what was budgeted.
“It’s terrific news,” said Clallam County Administrator Jim Jones said.
“We’ll put it to good use.”
Jones and Jefferson County Administrator Philip Morley said the money will be used to backfill their respective county’s general funds.
Clallam County budgeted $220,000 for the PILT, program.
Jefferson County budgeted $430,000 based on long-term historical averages.
Morley said the Jefferson County’s adopted policy calls for the money to first cover any shortfall in the general fund.
“This is welcome news for backfilling that,” Morley said.
The unexpected revenue will help both counties offset under-performing sales tax and real estate excise tax earnings.
Jones said the Clallam County’s unexpected $268,960 will more than offset losses from liquor privatization. He added that the payment is a small fraction of the county’s $31 million general fund.
Thirty-eight local governments in Washington received a total of $15.34 million in PILT funding this year.
“I am so pleased the Department of Interior has announced that Washington state communities will be receiving this critical support,” said U.S. Sen Patty Murray, D-Bothell, in a prepared statement.
“This is an important investment in our rural communities, and it will make a huge difference for our police officers, firefighters, and school teachers.”
Murray and 26 other Senators, including Maria Cantwell, D-Mountlake Terrace, set a letter to Senate conferees on May 10 requesting an extension of the PILT program and the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act.
The Secure Rural Schools program, which expired last year, helps rural counties like Clallam and Jefferson fund schools, roads and specific efforts such as fire protection and emergency management.
PILT funds were awarded to more than 1,900 counties nationwide.
A state and county breakdown of the funding is available at www.doi.gov/pilt.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
