WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley issued the following press release:
Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced counties throughout Oregon will receive a combined total of $52,016,022 in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2026. Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT funding helps to defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services in counties with federal lands.
"Rural communities shouldn't have to wonder if they will have the resources they need to pay for essential services and infrastructure," said Merkley, who serves as Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee which funds PILT. "PILT funds schools, firefighters, law...