Chafing Over Federal Land Control On Display As County Leaders Visit Capitol Hill

Route Fifty: WASHINGTON — Qualms about the federal government’s ownership of public land, mostly in the western United States, peppered remarks Republican members of Congress delivered at an event here Thursday that was put on by an organization representing counties.

County officials from around the nation visited Capitol Hill to impress upon congressional lawmakers the importance of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes, or PILT, program. Under that program the federal government makes annual payments to counties that encompass federal public lands—acreage that is exempt from local property taxes.

Read article