MOUNT IDA -- Montgomery County Judge Alvin Black is one of 30 county officials from across the nation who are attending a special National Association of Counties meeting in Washington, D.C., this week to discuss reimbursements to counties with federal land.
Black, the only county official from Arkansas, is part of a group that is lobbying legislators to obtain permanent funding for Payment in Lieu of Taxes and the Secure Rural Schools Fund.
Montgomery County is one of a number of counties in Arkansas and the western United States that contain large tracts of nontaxable federal lands.
"I consider it an honor to be the only person from Arkansas and one of only three from the South to be asked to attend and express our funding concerns. We are going to work hard to show Congress that it is not only a western state issue but that counties in southern states are in need of federal funding," Black told The Sentinel-Record Wednesday before leaving for Washington.
Black said the National Association of Counties is paying the majority of the expenses for the 30 representatives to attend the special meeting.
"Our Arkansas senators and representatives are on board and support of making this issue permanent. Both programs have received extensions in the past, but it always takes going to Washington to lobby hard for our share of the money. If they make it a permanent thing after we show our needs, it would save us a trip up there," Black said.
Black said that U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, of Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is preparing a presentation to create a permanent funding bill for both funds.
"He is recommending that PILT be funded at 150 percent of the current level. That is what we are lobbying for, and if it comes to pass, that will increase our funding from $650,000 to $950,000 a year. That would definitely help us as we get into our budgeting cycle for the county," Black said.
Black says the county's revenues through 2014 are about the same as last year.
"Right now, we are revenue neutral, and I have told the various departments to keep their bottom lines the same. I hope that we get additional federal funding through this trip, and also having it on a permanent basis, knowing we can count on it every year, will be a big relief for all of us here in Montgomery County," Black said.
The Montgomery County Quorum Court Finance Committee will start on the budget on Oct. 1, and Black will present a proposed 2015 budget at the November meeting after receiving revenue projections from Treasurer Betty Bowling.
"They will have a month to study the numbers, make changes and recommendations and we should pass the budget at the December meeting to go into effect Jan. 1," Black said.
At the September quorum court meeting, Black and the justices heard a report from Tom Qualls, program manager for the Southwest Territory of the American Red Cross.
"They are trying to get the Red Cross reactivated in Montgomery County, and he gave us a rundown of the services that could be provided. We will look into it further to see what it will take to make it possible," Black said.
Garland Co. West on 09/18/2014