ID HCR038

Direct the Committee on Federalism to study the impact of federal government's failure to make adequate Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) payments to Idaho for the property tax revenue lost due to federal ownership or control of lands within the state.

Federal government controls more than 62% of all land in Idaho that is not subject to state or local taxes, a situation resulting from the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) shift from land disposal to permanent federal retention.

Committee shall pilot technologies that provide an objective standard to evaluate and appraise federal lands in real time to determine their fair taxable value.

Express findings that PILT payments to Idaho are inadequate and do not constitute equal value substitutes for the property tax revenue that would otherwise be generated from these lands.

Note that Congress has been erratic for more than 10 years in the amount and timeliness of PILT payments to Idaho counties, jeopardizing essential government services.