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Haywood County allocates $92,721 in PILT funds to emergency management
Summary
The board approved a $92,721 budget amendment, appropriating Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds to emergency management to compensate local fire and rescue agencies for responses on federal lands; staff said checks will go out Dec. 1.
The Haywood County Board of Commissioners voted Nov. 14 to approve a budget amendment to appropriate $92,721 in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds to emergency management, the board announced during its regular meeting.
County staff explained that Haywood receives PILT because the county contains a substantial share of federal land—staff estimated roughly 35–40%—and that the county distributes a portion of those funds to volunteer fire departments and search‑and‑rescue teams in proportion to the number of calls they respond to on federal lands. The allocation discussed on Thursday reflected call activity for calendar year 2024.
A staff member said the office verifies calls using 911 dispatch logs and that this year required extra follow‑up to collect documentation from some departments. Staff said checks were expected to be issued Dec. 1 because of November bank holidays.
Commissioners discussed the broader policy question of whether some tourism‑related revenues could be used to help pay for rescues of visitors; one commissioner said state policy prevents repurposing certain tourism funds and that changes would require action at the state level. The board approved the regular agenda item and the PILT appropriation by voice vote.
The board did not alter the county’s PILT distribution formula during the meeting; the action was limited to appropriating the funds into emergency‑management accounts for distribution to responding departments.
