Federal Payments to Local Governments
Colorado Department of the Treasury - Federal Funds Distribution
Forest Payments were created in 1908 and required that for any money received by the Forest Service off of timber receipts or leasing revenue (among other things), 25% of the receipts must be returned to the state and used to provide for county road and school purposes.
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (SRS Act) provided another calculation method for distribution of Forest Payments to provide five years of transitional assistance to rural counties affected by the decline in revenue from timber harvests on federal lands. The 2000 act authorized payments through fiscal year 2006 and the act was reauthorized for one additional year with the Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act of 2007. In 2008 the act was again reauthorized as a part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. This reauthorization provided authorization for the program from 2008 to 2011 .
Eligible counties in Colorado had to make an election with each authorization in 2000, 2007, and most recently in late 2008 to decide which method of calculation each county would like to receive (the traditional "25% payment" or the Secure Rural Schools "full payment amount" method). When a county selects the "25% payment" method, they may opt-in to the "full payment amount" method two years after the initial election. The next election for those that selected the "25% payment" will be in 2010. Additionally if a county selects the "full payment amount" method, they must set aside a certain percentage of funds for different types of forest improvement projects. The election of percentages set aside occur annually.
The State of Colorado mandates a certain amount of money received by the counties be provided for both allowed purposes of road and bridge and schools. The designated amount and process has changed in 2009 with the passage of House Bill 09 - 1250. We have developed a FAQ that helps to explain the changes that have come along with the passage of that bill, and it is avaliable below.
Resources:
Dola Resources:
Secure Rural Schools Information
- 2009 Election Method Memo
- Payment Method Election Form - PDF | DOC
PILT Estimator Worksheet
- XLS | Forest Payment - PILT Estimator
Note: Calculations for Estimating purposes only. DOLA makes no claims to the accuracy of any calculations. It is important to understand the underlying assumptions of the calculation and the timeline in which the calculations are computed.
Other Resources:
Forest Service Reports
*Report 10-3 provides Secure Rural Schools title I and title III payments to states and special acts payments showing county shares.
**Report 18-1 provides Payments for Secure Rural Schools title I and title III and funds held by Forest Service for approved title II projects.
Title II Description
Title III Description
Reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act:
US Forest Service Forest Payment Info - www.fs.fed.us/srs/
- FY 2008 and projected FY 2009-2011 Payments to States, rev. July 20, 2009
Office of the State Auditor - 2008 Statement of Federal Lands Payments