Federal government giving New Mexico $49.8 million for federal public lands

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The U.S. Department of the Interior is giving local New Mexico governments nearly $50 million to help maintain community services and public lands. The money helps support firefighting, education, construction, water resources, and more.

Local governments are not able to tax some federal lands, so the payment makes up for the lack of tax revenue. The payments are called “Payments in Lieu of Taxes.”

The latest round of funding gives $275,165 to Bernalillo County, $2,902,795 to Sandoval County, and over $4 million to Chaves County. Other New Mexico counties also get funds, and you can see the full list at this link .

“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to boosting local communities,” Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget Joan Mooney said in a press release. “PILT [Payment in Lieu of Taxes] payments help local governments carry out vital services, such as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations. We are grateful for our ongoing partnerships with local jurisdictions across the country who help the Interior Department fulfill our mission on behalf of the American public.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.