FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2026
CONTACT:
Kyra Smith (Crapo)
Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) announced 44 local governments in Idaho will receive a total of about $49.6 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2026. Since local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT payments help cover the costs associated with maintaining community services.
“Idaho’s counties are responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, and dependable PILT funding helps them meet community service demands,” said Crapo. “These payments help local governments make long-term investments in roads, emergency services and other essential priorities while recognizing the economic realities created by federal land ownership. I will continue advocating for policies that give Idaho’s rural communities the certainty and resources they need to succeed.”
“Every Idaho county contains federal land, making PILT funding critical to maintaining the roads and essential services Idahoans rely on each day,” said Risch. “These payments ensure Idaho’s rural communities can offset the loss of revenue from nontaxable federal land.”
Crapo and Risch have been long-term proponents of ensuring the long-term viability of the PILT program.
The U.S. Department of the Interior collects billions of dollars of revenue annually from commercial activities on public lands. A portion of those revenues is shared with states and counties. The balance is deposited into the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which, in turn, pays for a broad array of federal activities, including PILT funding.
Payments are calculated based on the number of acres of federal land within each county or jurisdiction and the population of that county or jurisdiction.
A full list of funding by state and county is available HERE.
About Mike Crapo
Senator Mike Crapo has represented Idaho in the Senate since 1999, following three terms in the U.S. House and eight years in the Idaho State Senate. A lifelong Idahoan, he currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
