This week, the conversation around the State Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program was given a bit of life with the leadership of Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg).  Using the budget process, Senator McGuire requested the Senate Budget Subcommittee on State Administration and General Government reinstate the State’s obligation to remit State PILT payments to the 36 State PILT counties.  

In 2015, the State Budget included language in the Fish and Game Code that changed a decades long commitment from a mandatory payment to a permissive one.  Senator McGuire has been tireless in seeking to return the Fish and Game Code to, once again, require the State to remit these payments, as evident in this letter.

RCRC supported this effort, and joined in the presentation of the proposal to the Subcommittee for consideration.  While no vote was taken (none was expected), the Subcommittee expressed some sympathy for the request.  The request will be forwarded and considered as the state budget process moves forward with an anticipated passage of a package on June 15th.