The Bureau of Land Management’s annual property tax payment to
San Benito County came in about $40,000 more than the budgeted
figure for such federal compensation, an indication the
cash-strapped government may get a needed boost.
The Bureau of Land Management’s annual property tax payment to San Benito County came in about $40,000 more than the budgeted figure for such federal compensation, an indication the cash-strapped government may get a needed boost.
And the $138,000 coming from the BLM – the county’s budget estimated $100,000 – should be compounded by an additional payment from another federal agency, the National Parks Service that runs Pinnacles National Monument.
But interim County Administrative Officer Dan Vrtis remained cautious and said the extra money to the general fund may be offset by deficiencies from other state or federal revenue sources. Vrtis said the county budgets conservatively regarding state and federal revenues “knowing you’re at risk in other revenue classifications.”
As far as all revenue sources go, including the federal tax payments, Vrtis said, “We’re right on target.”
San Benito normally receives about $170,000 from federal agencies operating land within the county, Vrtis said.
The $138,000 check, which the county has not received, represents a property tax assessed to BLM lands within San Benito. Vrtis said the BLM and other government agencies benefit from roads and other county resources.
“It’s their fair share of them paying property taxes that we can’t bill them (because it’s a government agency),” Vrtis said.
The BLM maintains nearly 100,000 acres in San Benito. About two-thirds of local BLM land is used for grazing. It also manages land throughout 12 western states for maintenance of natural resources and historical sites, according to the BLM.
