For decades, communities across Colorado and the west have engaged in a contract with the federal government. This is because many counties have large swaths of federal land within their borders in the form of BLM land, national forests, and national parks and monuments. These lands aren’t taxable and local communities often cover the expenses of maintaining access to these lands and providing safety and other first-responder services. To help offset those losses, the federal government has reimbursed states and counties through a program called Payment in Lieu of Taxes. It’s often referred to as PILT.
