‘Payments’ program
The U.S. Department of Interior will release funds to U.S. communities through the “Payments in Lieu of Taxes” program, with Patrick and Henry counties both slated to receive funds.
Given that federal lands located in local jurisdictions cannot be taxed, PILT or “Payments in Lieu of Taxes” program funds help state and local governments carry out public service projects. Numerous communities in Virginia’s Ninth District will receive funds, including:
• $4,718 to Henry County
• $27,900 to Patrick County
Adjacent counties like Floyd ($14,235) and Franklin ($25,626), also are among the dozen localities to receive funds.
In a statement, U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, said, “Virginia’s Ninth District is home to numerous local jurisdictions that include federal lands. Because of this arrangement, activities on those lands are tax-exempt and local governments are limited in its collection of tax revenues.
“I am a proud supporter of the PILT program to help local communities. As someone who voted to reauthorize PILT payments, I am delighted to see more than $2.3 million in PILT funds go to Ninth District communities,” he added.
In January 2025, Griffith voted in favor of H.R. 6938, a package of appropriations bills that included Interior and Environment funding. Later that month, President Trump signed this bill into law.
The PILT program first started in 1977 and continues to serve rural communities.
Funding for the PILT program is provided through the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill.
This news follows Griffith’s April announcement that federal funding will support Ninth District communities through the “Secure Rural Schools” program.
Disaster declaration
Henry County and 43 other counties were deemed a primary natural disaster areas and Patrick County was among the 61 contiguous counties approved to receive federal funds due to the late spring frost and freeze events.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger made the announcement last week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins issued a Secretarial Disaster Declaration. The designation follows a formal request by Spanberger in May in response to devastating frost and freeze damage to Virginia agriculture. Farms across the Commonwealth saw several weeks of warm weather in the early spring that pushed shoots, buds, and blossoms on fruits, vines, and ornamental trees, and promoted development in small grain crops. Following this warm period, the Commonwealth saw widespread freezing temperatures, with some areas recording temperatures in the 20s across multiple nights in March and April. According to reports provided by Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), losses are well above the 30 percent disaster trigger as a result of these freezing temperatures, with some growers anticipating a 100 percent loss.
The declaration makes farm operators in primary counties and those counties contiguous to such primary counties eligible to be considered for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loan assistance, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have 8 months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans. FSA considers each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of production losses on the farm and the security and repayment ability.
Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with further information.
