U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced today (June 15th, 2023) that the Department of the Interior is distributing $35.4 million to eligible local governments across Alaska through the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. To help offset the cost of maintaining a variety of community services, the PILT program provides annual payments to local governments in the state that contain federal lands that are not subject to state or local taxation. This revenue supports local governments by providing essential services, such as the construction of public schools and roads, firefighting and police protection, and search-and-rescue operations.
Through her role as Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murkowski worked to secure full funding at $578.8 million for the nationwide PILT program in Fiscal Year 2023.
“As a senior appropriator, securing funding for the PILT program is always one of my top priorities. Over 60 percent of Alaska’s lands are controlled by the federal government, which, unlike private lands, aren’t subject to local taxes, creating challenges for rural communities to ensure funding for essential projects and services. This funding will play a crucial role in allowing boroughs across the state to maintain public safety services and keep their schools up and running,” said Senator Murkowski.
2023 Payments to Alaskan Communities
COUNTY PAYMENT
ALEUTIANS EAST BOROUGH $719,988
ALEUTIANS WEST CENSUS AREA $1,059,430
BETHEL CENSUS AREA $2,269,337
BRISTOL BAY BOROUGH $177,559
CHUGACH CENSUS AREA $1,307,831
COPPER RIVER CENSUS AREA $557,260
DENALI BOROUGH $337,533
DILLINGHAM CENSUS AREA $1,011,119
FAIRBANKS NORTHSTAR BOROUGH $524,728
HAINES BOROUGH $430,148
HOONAH-ANGOON CENSUS AREA $494,118
JUNEAU CITY & BOROUGH $2,737,925
KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH $3,634,007
KETCHIKAN GATEWAY BOROUGH $1,371,795
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH $1,753,028
KUSILVUK CENSUS AREA $1,387,136
LAKE & PENINSULA BOROUGH $300,030
MATANUSKA SUSITNA BOROUGH $4,212,725
MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE $827,259
MUNICIPALITY-SKAGWAY $205,118
NOME CENSUS AREA $1,482,692
NORTH SLOPE BOROUGH $1,589,298
NORTHWEST ARTIC BOROUGH $1,387,136
PETERSBURG BOROUGH $711,089
PRINCE OF WALES CENSUS AREA $1,190,550
S.E. FAIRBANKS CENSUS AREA $1,307,830
SITKA CITY BOROUGH $817,985
WRANGELL BOROUGH $435,426
YAKUTAT BOROUGH $149,168
YUKON KOYUKUK CENSUS AREA $1,059,429
TOTAL $35,448,677
