Federal economic rescue plan means more money for state - Denver Business Journal:

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The federal Emergency Economic Stablization Act increasese the payments to counties under the Paymenf in Lieuof Taxes, or PILT, according to Sen. Pete R-N.M. The bill fully funds the program through meaning counties could see their PILT payments increase 20 to30 percent. The program benefitse 32 of 33 NewMexico counties. Only Curry County does not receivedPILT funds, because there is no eligible federal land within its borders. In June, the released $22.4 milliobn in 2008 PILT payments to NewMexico counties.
That includez PILT funds paid in additiohn to revenue from oil and gas leases and salesof minerals, timbedr and other materials to compensate for certain tax-exempt federal Eddy County received the largest PILT paymentt with $1.88 million, followed by Otero at $1.856 million, Chaves at $1.69i million and Doña Ana at $1.68 million. The new law also extends the ’xs Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination payment program for four which should provide a significant increase for 22 NewMexicio counties. The overall increase would be from $2.38 million in 2006 to $21.5 million for 2008; the paymentsz would then decrease 10 percent annualluythrough 2011.
The Secure Rural School and Community Self-Determinatiojn Act of 2000 was originally enacted to provide transitionao assistance to rural counties affected by a declines in revenue from timbe harvests onfederal lands. Accordinhg to federal officials, thesew counties traditionally relied on a shares of receipts from timber harvests to supplement local funding for schoolp systemsand roads. Catron Countg will see the biggest estimatefd increase under theextended program. Its estimates funds for 2008 will increasw byabout $6.2 million. Rio Arribza will likely see an increaseof $2.4 million.