Assembly Budget Subcommittee #3 considered the issue of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Payment-in-Lieu-Taxes (PILT) this week.  As outlined in the Governor’s 2015-16 Proposed Budget, the Brown Administration is proposing to fund PILT payments to counties (minus a certain percentage identified as the school district share) for the 2015-2016 fiscal year in the amount of $644,000.  Also proposed by the Administration is a Budget trailer bill what would change existing law to make the requirement for payment of PILT to counties discretionary. 

Subcommittee staff recommended that the Subcommittee “Approve as Budgeted” the funding allocation as well as the Budget Trailer bill proposal.  RCRC Chair and Sierra County Supervisor Lee Adams testified on behalf of California’s rural counties, stating both RCRC’s appreciation for the proposed funding allocation after more than a decade without PILT payments, and RCRC’s opposition to the Budget Trailer bill language.  The Subcommittee did not take action, but instead left the item “open” to be heard again at a later date.

RCRC’s letter to the Subcommittee can be accessed here.