Rural Oregon Gets $31 Million Lifeline for Services Lost to Federal Land Ownership

By Lucille McNamara On Jun 28, 2025

Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza at Lane County Courthouse in Eugene, where $868,540 in PILT funding supports vital community services like road upkeep and public safety. | Credit: Rick Obst

Oregon counties will receive more than $31 million through the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program to help support vital local services.

The federal payments help offset the loss of property tax revenue in areas with tax-exempt federal lands. The amount each county receives is based on a formula that considers population size and the amount of federal land within its borders, with the funds commonly used for services such as road upkeep and public safety.

The Five Biggest Beneficiaries

The five biggest beneficiaries of the PILT funding are: Lane County ($868,540), Douglas County ($829,456), Coos County ($784,444), Linn County ($280,573), and Benton County ($176,932).

Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, who are committed to ensuring that county communities receive their fair share of PILT funds, welcomed the allocations.

For a comprehensive list of PILT funding to all Oregon counties in 2025, visit the U.S. Department of Interior online website at https://pilt.doi.gov/counties.cfm