The U.S. Department of the Interior released more than $34.5 million to Colorado this week through the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program. La Plata County will receive $760,000.

That’s $150,000 more than last year.

PILT funds are allocated to counties based on the population and the amount of federal land within the county. Funds go to local governments to offset losses in property taxes from nontaxable federal lands within county borders. Colorado is compensated for almost 24 million acres. Of that, La Plata County receives funds for 432,917 acres.

The funds go to local governments to carry out firefighting services, search and rescue as well as construction of public schools and roads.

Bordering La Plata County – Archuleta County received $1.1 million for 433,000 acres, San Juan County received $78,000 for 218,000 acres, Montezuma County received $172,000 for 480,000 acres and Dolores County received $150,000 for 418,000 acres.

Colorado Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennett pushed for a one-year extension of the PILT program in the 2014 Farm Bill. The Senators issued a statement commending the U.S. Department of Interior’s release of the funds Wednesday but highlighted the need for a long-term solution.

“Our local leaders shouldn’t be forced into wondering from year to year if they will receive the payments the federal government owes them,” Bennett said in a joint statement from the senators.

mbowerman@durangoherald.com. Mary Bowerman is a graduate student at American University in Washington, D.C., and an intern for The Durango Herald.