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County Payments

  • PILT Proposal Would Help Small-Population Counties

    PILT Proposal Would Help Small-Population Counties

    Mark Haggerty

    Analysis shows raising Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) population limits for small-population counties would have increased total payments by $2 million in 2019. Read more

  • Commercial Activities on National Forests

    Commercial Activities on National Forests

    Mark Haggerty

    Updated: Headwaters Economics produced two interactive maps to show the range of commercial activities on National Forests at the Forest, state and forest region levels. Read more

  • Endowing Federal Public Land Counties

    Endowing Federal Public Land Counties

    Mark Haggerty

    Reforming county payments by establishing a permanent Trust to fund Secure Rural Schools (SRS). Read more

  • President’s Budget Proposal Cuts County Payments

    President’s Budget Proposal Cuts County Payments

    Mark Haggerty

    New analysis and interactive map show how the President’s budget proposal cuts county payments and the impact for every county in the nation. Read more

  • Time to Create a Natural Resources Trust

    Time to Create a Natural Resources Trust

    Mark Haggerty

    Unlike most countries and state governments, the U.S. has not created a natural resources trust which could help meet volatility and spending challenges facing local and county governments. Read more

  • County Payments Research

    County Payments Research

    Mark Haggerty

    County governments are compensated for the tax-exempt status of federal public lands within their boundaries. These payments often constitute a significant portion of county and school budgets, particularly in rural counties with extensive public land ownership. Read more

  • Wildlife Refuge Payments: Reforms and Funding

    Wildlife Refuge Payments: Reforms and Funding

    Mark Haggerty

    How national wildlife refuge payments–especially important to rural counties–could be reformed and funded. Read more

  • Reforming Wildlife Refuge Payments

    Reforming Wildlife Refuge Payments

    Mark Haggerty

    How county governments can benefit from reforming wildlife refuge payments. Read more

  • County Payment Reform Ideas, and Analysis of Recent Proposals

    County Payment Reform Ideas, and Analysis of Recent Proposals

    Mark Haggerty

    Reform ideas for future county payments from Headwaters Economics as well analysis of proposals made in the House, Senate, and by the President. Read more

  • Time for a U.S. Natural Resources Trust?

    Time for a U.S. Natural Resources Trust?

    Mark Haggerty

    Compared to other nations and even U.S. states, the federal government is a conspicuous laggard in creating a natural resources trust which would allow for stable, permanent, and ever rising payments to states and local governments without risks to taxpayers. Read more

  • Federal Land Payments to Counties: Background Analysis, History, and Context

    Federal Land Payments to Counties: Background Analysis, History, and Context

    Mark Haggerty

    Research on the history and context of county payments which play an important role in many rural communities–influencing public lands management, economic development, and funding for local schools, roads, and public safety. Read more

  • Clearwater Basin Collaborative

    Clearwater Basin Collaborative

    Ben Alexander

    The Clearwater Basin Collaborative is a diverse group of regional interests working together to craft a plan for the protection, use, and management of National Forest land within the Clearwater Basin in Idaho. Read more

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