Idaho counties to receive $49.6 million in payment in lieu of taxes for federal public lands
LAURA GUIDO / Idaho Capital Sun | Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 1 day, 2 hours AGO
Fallen trees rest on a 28-acre patch near Prichard from the December 2025 windstorm. The Forest Service issued a decision in March to salvage log this unit to reduce wildfire hazards, recover economic value from the wood, and reduce the risk of insect and disease from further damaging the stand. There are numerous other areas of blowdown across the national forest that are being addressed through various efforts.
Photo courtesy of the US Forest Service / Christopher Anglin.
Idaho’s 44 counties are set to receive around $49.6 million to offset lost revenue from the absence of property taxes on federal public lands within their boundaries.
The federal government annually provides local governments that include large swaths of federal lands with “payment in lieu of taxes,” or PILT, funding to help cover the costs of providing community services.
“Idaho’s counties are responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, and dependable PILT funding helps them meet community service demands,” Idaho Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo said in a press release. “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.”
The five North Idaho counties will receive: Kootenai County, $866,239 based on 244,192 acres; Shoshone, $1.4 million, 1.2 million acres; Bonner County, $1.4 million, 888,084 acres; Boundary County, $1.4 million; Benewah County, $255,007, 49,104 acres.
The U.S. Department of the Interior collects revenue from commercial activity on public lands, and a portion of that revenue is shared with states and counties based on the number of acres of federal land within the county and the population.
Elmore County will receive the largest payment, according to the Department of the Interior, totaling nearly $3.6 million. Elmore County has more than 1.3 million acres of public lands. Cassia County will receive the second-largest payment, at around $3.1 million, followed by Blaine County at around $3 million.
“Every Idaho county contains federal land, making PILT funding critical to maintaining the roads and essential services Idahoans rely on each day,” said Idaho Republican U.S. Jim Risch in the press release. “These payments ensure Idaho’s rural communities can offset the loss of revenue from nontaxable federal land.”