Nevada counties to get $25.4 million in PILT payments

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced Thursday Nevada local governments will receive a record $25.4 million in payments under the PILT program this year.

PILT stands for Payments in Lieu of Taxes and is designed to compensate counties where the vast majority of their land is federally owned and, therefore, exempt form paying property taxes. In some of Nevada’s counties, federal property is well above 90 percent of the land.

“Over 85 percent of the land in Nevada is owned by the federal government, making it essential that Nevada receive its fair share,” said Reid.

He said the money supports education, law enforcement and healthcare in those counties.

While Carson City will receive just $120,016 this year, other counties get much more. Churchill, for example, will get $2,199,782 and Lyon County $2.080,651.

Douglas County will get a check for $653,884.

The biggest payment goes to Washoe County — $3,446,375, followed by Clark at $3,331,831 then Nye at $3,074,855.

The smallest check goes to tiny Storey County — $37,402.