Local leaders are weighing in on a bill proposed in the Utah Legislature that if passed would have a significant fiscal impact on counties. Naturally, the Public Lands Counsel and Utah Association of Counties are opposed to such impacts that SB 44 “Payment in Lieu of Taxes Funds for Counties” would have. PILT (payments in lieu of taxes) are designated for distribution to counties as a way for the federal government to reimburse counties for services provided on public lands. With approximately 80 percent of land in Uintah County and 75 percent of land in Duchesne County being federally owned, SB44 would have a significant impact on both counties that are already struggling to fund road maintenance on public lands with the amount currently received. Discussion on SB 44 during the Vernal Chamber Legislative Committee meeting last week showed a mixture of views. Vernal City Manager Quinn Bennion shared that he is opposed to SB 44 stating that as the counties are charged with the maintenance of roads on public lands within the county all of the PILT payments received should remain with the county. Bennion also said he believes this would set a bad precedent to allow for state control in this manner. Naples City Mayor Dean Baker had a differing view stating that Naples City is impacted by the extraction industry operating on public lands and should be reimbursed in a similar manner for impacts made by industry trucks using city streets. Local representatives including Uintah County Commissioner Bart Haslem have already been active in lobbying against SB44 in an effort to stop or minimize the impact the bill could have.
