US Treasury Announces LATCF Payments to Counties

On Thursday, September 29th, the US Treasury announced Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Funds (LATCF) payments to counties. The LATCF was established through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and provides $1.5 billion in payments to counties over two years. LATCF funds can be used as general fund revenues for any county purpose except lobbying activities. In total, 2,086 counties will receive a minimum payment of $100,000 paid in two annual installments. The maximum payment amount is $12 million, also paid in two annual installments.

The US Treasury will make a payment to every county that receives either a Department of the Interior Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) or FIsh and Wildlife Services Refuge Revenue Sharing (RRS) payment. Payments are based on a number of factors, including:

– Federal land acres,

– Poverty rates and median household income, and

– Unemployment rate

Each of Idaho’s 44 counties are eligible to receive a LATCF payment. In order to receive a LATCF payment, an eligible county must apply for funds using your county’s US Treasury ID.me login. Eligible counties will have until January 31, 2023 to apply to receive LATCF funds. Those counties receiving funds will also be required to submit periodic reports to the US Treasury on expenditures made using LATCF funds.

Counties in Idaho will share in $98.8 million in payments, with 24 of Idaho’s 44 counties receiving at least $1 million in payments over two years. The average annual county payment in Idaho is $1.1 million. A full breakdown of payments by state and county can be found by clicking here. Additional information about the LATCF can be found here, including guidance on use of funds. The payments are a monumental win for rural public land counties around the country and will provide needed funding for road and bridge improvements, county facility upgrades, and other one time county projects.

A special thanks is also in order to Bannock County Commissioner Jeff Hough, Custer County Commissioner Wayne Butts, Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries, Idaho County Commissioner Skip Brandt, and Valley County Sherry Maupin who joined IAC Executive Director Seth Grigg and other county commissioners from public land counties around the west in attending the NACo PILT Fly-In in Washington, DC to lobby Congress and the US Treasury to ensure payments were directed to public land counties as intended by ARPA. Their efforts demonstrate the impact a united voice has in advocating for America’s rural counties and amplifies the strength of organizations like the Idaho Association of Counties and the National Association of Counties.