Tester, Daines call on Senate to fully fund critical payments to Montana counties
PILT helps 55 Montana counties pay for essential services (Montana) – Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines are calling on Senate leaders to fully fund a critical tool for Montana counties. Tester and Daines urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to fully fund Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) for the 2016 Fiscal Year. PILT payments are made by the Department of the Interior to 55 Montana counties with federal lands that are not taxable by local governments, but the lands’ presence creates demands for local government services, such as law enforcement and infrastructure.