Welcome to Skagit County

December 9th, 2008

Skagit County Commissioners honor peers for PILT work

Efforts secure $1.2 million in federal funding for Skagit County

SKAGIT COUNTY – The Skagit County Board of Commissioners will sign a proclamation on Monday, December 22, 2008 at 11: a.m. at 1800 Continental Place, honoring the hard work of two of their peers who were instrumental in the development and passage by Congress of the reauthorization of the “Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-determination act of 2000,” which expired in 2007.

Skamania County Commissioner Paul Pearce and Okanogan County Commissioner Don “Bud” Hover’s efforts to reauthorize the act assures Skagit County will receive $1,208,000 in federal funds in 2009. “Without the hard work of Paul and Bud, counties throughout the State of Washington would have lost $42,000, 000 of federal funds annually,” said Skagit County Commissioner Don Munks. “In these tough economic times, these dollars are vital for counties to protect infrastructure in rural America.”

“Payment In Lieu of Taxes” (or PILT) are Federal payments to local governments that help offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable Federal lands within their boundaries. The Law recognizes that the inability of local governments to collect taxes on federally-owned land can create a financial impact.

PILT payments help local governments carry out such vital services as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations. PILT payments are one of the ways that the Federal government can fulfill its role of being a good neighbor to local communities.

“These funds were set to go away. Skagit County owes these two men a huge thank you for their hard work and personal sacrifice,” said Munks. “Our budget process this year was very difficult. $1.2 million dollars lost would have made it even more difficult.”

For further information, contact:

Dan Berentson

Communications Director

360-419-3461