Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today reported that New Mexico counties will share more than $37 million in payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) funds.  In 2008, New Mexico received $36.1 million.

PILT, which is a program administered through the Department of Interior, compensates counties for federal property such as military bases and national parks, which cannot be taxed by local governments.

Because PILT was shortchanged each year in the annual appropriations process, Bingaman forcefully advocated for automatic full funding for the program – which many New Mexico counties rely heavily upon.  Last year, Bingaman played a key role in negotiations that guaranteed full funding through fiscal year 2012, while also improving a separate initiative called Secure Rural Schools.  That effort resulted in a $14 million increase in funding for New Mexico counties under the PILT program.

“New Mexico counties are home to a significant amount of federal land, none of which is on the tax rolls.  In these difficult economic times, many county governments have been working hard to tighten their belts.  I’m very glad that the federal government is stepping up to assist counties this year with an increase in PILT funds,” said Bingaman, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. 

Funds will be awarded as the following: 

Bernalillo County                    $208,657
Catron County                        $540,201
Chaves County                       $2.801 million
Cibola County                         $1.818 million
Colfax County                        $162,205
De Baca County                     $97,522
Dona Ana County                   $2.767 million
Eddy County                          $3.098 million
Grant County                          $2.274 million
Guadalupe County                  $143,078
Harding County                      $108,716
Hidalgo County                      $741,404
Lea County                             $982,200
Lincoln County                       $1.730 million
Los Alamos County                $80,446
Luna County                           $1.730 million
McKinley County                   $959,305
Mora County                           $255,226
Otero County Commission     $3.070 million
Quay County                          $4,196
Rio Arriba County                  $2.612 million
Roosevelt County                   $25,010
San Juan County                     $2.008 million
San Miguel County                 $858,572
Sandoval County                    $2.222 million
Santa Fe County                     $701,166
Sierra County                          $1.210 million
Socorro County                       $1.539 million
Taos County                            $1.687 million
Torrance County                     $359,623
Union County                         $135,011
Valencia County                     $79,256

Total                                       $37.013 million