U.S. Sen. Jon Tester announced on June 27 that Montana counties will receive $40 million in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) for 2018.

Tester helped to secure PILT funds in March during debate on the omnibus spending bill.

“Montana counties rely on these funds to provide public services and balance their budget,” Tester said in a news release. “This investment will help rebuild schools, plow roads, hire law enforcement officers and perform other duties critical to rural America. As we debate next year’s budget, I will relentlessly fight tooth and nail to ensure local leaders, families, and businesses have the financial certainty they need to continue investing in their communities.”

In all, 56 Montana counties will receive PILT payments this year. PILT payments are awarded to counties with federal lands that are not taxable by local governments. Those lands, however, require local government services, such as law enforcement and infrastructure.

Mineral County will receive $721,846 on 642,154 acres.

An additional $500 million was secured for Montana counties through PILT in the 2019 Interior Appropriations Act, Tester explained. The Senate is expected to take a final vote on that legislation before the end of September.

Another funding initiative was reauthorized this spring for Montana counties, Secure Rural Schools (SRS).

Montana counties with forested lands received more than $17 million from SRS to compensate for the decline in timber production.