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Peters and Stabenow Announce More than $4 Million in PILT Funding for Michigan

PILT Funding Helps 29 Michigan Counties Provide Essential Services

 

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced $4,281,492 in funding for 29 Michigan counties through the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. Michigan is home to more than three million acres of federal lands, and as a result, county governments throughout Michigan miss out on critical property tax revenue every year. These Michigan counties depend on PILT to help fund essential services, such as health, education, law enforcement and infrastructure maintenance services. 

“The PILT program plays a critical role in helping counties make up for lost revenue, while preserving these treasured resources for visitors from Michigan and across the country. Without PILT, counties across Michigan would face economic hardship and struggle to fund many of the essential services that residents rely on,” said Peters. “I’m pleased to join with Senator Stabenow to announce more than $4 million in funding that will help Michigan communities with federal public lands continue to provide vital services for their residents and improve access to our parks, lakeshore and trails for everyone to enjoy.”

“As a former County Commissioner, I know the important role that local counties play in providing critical services like roads, police and fire protection,” said Stabenow. “This funding will ensure the continuing partnership between our local communities, national forests, and other federal lands that contribute so much to our Michigan way of life.” 

Outdoor recreation is a key part of Michigan’s economy, generating more than $18 billion in consumer spending and supporting nearly 200,000 jobs. In 2014, Michigan’s parks, trails and other public lands brought in nearly 2 million visitors and generated $173 million in economic benefits from tourism.

 

Below are the counties that received the most PILT funding in the 2015 fiscal year:

COUNTY

PAYMENT

TOTAL

ACRES

ALCONA COUNTY

$93,661

51,521

ALGER COUNTY

$261,917

137,310

BARAGA COUNTY

$67,307

36,771

BENZIE COUNTY

$20,583

8,250

CHIPPEWA COUNTY

$254,798

142,481

CRAWFORD COUNTY

$58,285

32,819

DELTA COUNTY

$331,937

172,567

GOGEBIC COUNTY

$496,209

248,410

HOUGHTON COUNTY

$271,095

127,228

IOSCO COUNTY

$115,150

60,634

IRON COUNTY

$320,868

150,010

KEWEENAW COUNTY

$308,559

131,429

LAKE COUNTY

$160,805

74,113

LEELANAU COUNTY

$110,484

39,822

MACKINAC COUNTY

$85,794

52,632

MANISTEE COUNTY

$107,817

59,414

MARQUETTE COUNTY

$36,287

17,724

MASON COUNTY

$99,045

45,222

MECOSTA COUNTY

$2,452

1,622

MONTCALM COUNTY

$3,282

1,774

MUSKEGON COUNTY

$25,894

11,656

NEWAYGO COUNTY

$114,303

67,776

OCEANA COUNTY

$71,016

32,915

OGEMAW COUNTY

$4,719

5,913

ONTONAGON COUNTY

$454,937

230,172

OSCODA COUNTY

$115,512

76,161

SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY

$189,509

93,209

WAYNE COUNTY

$2,801

1,193

WEXFORD COUNTY

$96,466

55,927

TOTAL

$4,281,492

2,166,675

 

For a complete list of counties that received PILT funding in 2015, please click here. 

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