Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced a bill to support rural communities. The Small County PILT Parity Act would allow counties with populations under 5,000 to receive increased Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) payments to create parity with larger counties where per capita funding increases as population decreases. In Nevada, five counties would qualify for increased funding under this bill: Esmeralda, Eureka, Lincoln, Mineral, and Storey.
“This bipartisan bill ensures that our most rural counties are treated fairly when it comes to receiving PILT dollars,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “These counties rely on federal funding for critical projects and services, and I will always fight to ensure that communities in all 17 of Nevada’s counties have the resources they need to thrive.”
“PILT payments are essential for many of Montana’s rural counties, and they provide funding for essential services like emergency response and transportation,” said Senator Daines. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to bring parity to the PILT program and ensure our rural and low-population counties are treated fairly.”
“Over 1,900 counties across the United States utilize PILT funding to provide essential services for our residents, including emergency services, transportation infrastructure, law enforcement and healthcare,” said Matthew Chase, National Association of Counties Executive Director. “The Small County PILT Parity Act ensures that rural counties with significant tracts of federal land but limited populations have the resources necessary to deliver services to residents and visitors alike. Counties applaud the efforts of Senators Daines and Cortez Masto and urge swift passage of this bipartisan legislation.”
PILT funds are payments from the federal government to county governments to offset the loss of property taxes from federally owned lands in that county. The Small County PILT Party Act would create four new tiers in the PILT Formula (1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000) to allow for higher payments for eligible counties.
The full text of the bill can be found here.
Senator Cortez Masto is a champion for Nevada’s rural communities, working across the aisle to deliver for families. She has led legislation to support key tourism and outdoor industries in every corner of Nevada through economic development, and she has introduced a bipartisan bill to cut red tape for small businesses—including those in rural areas. She also ensured rural Nevada communities have better access to federal funds and services through the Rural Partners Network. In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, she secured funding for rural schools and over $460 million for broadband. She also made sure the law included her legislation to help rural counties with internet access at local schools and streamline federal broadband funding to improve internet access for rural areas.
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