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Rushford Village officials say state statute blocks PILT payments; commissioners consider next steps
Summary
Commissioners were told Rushford Village does not qualify for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) because it was a city before 2006; staff and a CEDA representative discussed researching county and legislative options to revisit the issue.
Rushford Village commissioners discussed their exclusion from Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Nov. 18, 2025. Commissioner Gordon Johnson said he spoke with Fillmore County Commissioner Randy Dahl about the payments and urged local officials to press the issue with county leaders.
Jayme Longmire of CEDA and the village’s attorney, identified in the minutes as Attorney O’Koren, reviewed the statutory background and told the commission that the state statute shows some cities that converted after 2006 receive PILT, but Rushford Village converted earlier and therefore does not qualify. Johnson said he had been told previously that if the Fillmore County commissioners approved paying CRV PILT, Representative Greg Davids would sign off, and suggested the council send a representative to a county meeting to discuss the matter. Longmire said the issue has been forwarded to SEMLM as a potential 2026 legislative item.
Commissioners debated whether to pursue county-level advocacy or seek legislative change and discussed longer-term ideas such as limiting the amount of state-owned land within municipalities through legislation. No formal motion was recorded at the meeting to launch a specific course of action.
Next steps noted in the minutes: Johnson asked Longmire to look into why CRV no longer receives PILT from Fillmore County; Longmire confirmed Attorney O’Koren located the relevant state statute and that the topic has been suggested to SEMLM for potential legislative action in 2026.
