Washington, D.C. (June 24, 2021) – Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) today announced the Department of the Interior’s disbursement of 2021 Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program funding totaling more than $3.9 million for Eastern Washington counties. Each year, PILT funds are made available to local governments to help offset their inability to tax federal property.

“Rural communities across the country continue to face financial uncertainty as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Many rural counties in Eastern Washington were forced to stretch thin their already small budgets to meet the demands of this health emergency, making support more important than ever,” said Rodgers. “This PILT funding from the Department of Interior, which I have long supported in Congress, is critical to our counties’ ability to fund infrastructure, schools, law enforcement, and other essential services.”

NOTE: Earlier this year, Cathy urged the House Appropriations Committee to fully fund the PILT program for the upcoming fiscal year. 

Below are the disbursement totals for Eastern Washington Counties: 

• Asotin County: $179,073
• Columbia County: $402,766
• Ferry County: $901,381
• Garfield County: $243,353
• Lincoln County: $255,132
• Pend Oreille County: $1,190,789
• Spokane County: $5,893
• Stevens County: $653,286
• Whitman County: $61,223

CLICK HERE for more information on the PILT program.