Arizona counties are breathing a sigh of relief. The federal government had not decided if the federal land funds they give counties every year would be allocated this time around, but just recently the agencies got word that it is coming.

Counties were told two weeks ago that the Payment in Lieu of Taxes or PILT funds will not be included in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill. That meant no money starting this summer. On Monday, counties were notified PILT money made it through in the Farm Bill.

PILT was started in 1976. It provides payments to counties with federal land to make up for losses on property tax revenues.

Jen Sweeney Marson is with the Arizona Association of Counties. She said this is important for Arizona, among the largest PILT recipients.

“Arizona is the fourth largest PILT recipient behind CA, UT and NM. So Arizona’s allocation is just over $32 million, and all 15 counties receive some form of PILT money.” said Sweeney Marson.

She said Yuma and Graham Counties received the largest amount of Arizona’s PILT funds, just over $3 million each.