WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a budget resolution amendment that carves budgetary space for legislation increasing federal PILT payments to local governments. PILT stands for payments in lieu of taxes, and the program currently pays much less than local governments could collect if federal lands were assessed property tax. Senator Lee’s amendment opens the door for a bill to determine the size of the payment shortfall and bring PILT payments in line with what local governments are due.

The amendment passed the Senate in the early hours of Tuesday by a 51-48 margin during the budget resolution vote-a-rama process.