An issue currently under discussion in the House and Senate Appropriations Committees would use surplus funds from the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Special Fund to pay for the statewide reappraisal program – a purpose beyond its original obligation. VLCT is urging municipal leaders to weigh in now.
Quick Facts / Talking Points
- The PILOT Special Fund currently has a surplus of more than $15 million raised by the 25% of Local Option Tax revenues that are deposited into the PILOT Fund each year.
- The FY26 Budget Adjustment Act appropriated $3.41 million from the PILOT surplus to pay for the state’s per-parcel reappraisal and equalization payments.
- FY27 budget proposals under consideration would appropriate an additional $3.41 million from the PILOT surplus for the same purpose.
- These reappraisal and equalization payments would otherwise be paid from the General Fund.
- Local Option Taxes are locally approved and locally raised revenues. Voters did not approve their use to offset state costs.
See Ted Brady’s recent letter to the four legislative committees responsible for appropriations and finance.
We encourage you, as municipal leaders, to oppose the use of PILOT surplus funds for the state’s reappraisal and equalization payments in the FY27 State budget.
Please Act Now and Communicate Your Municipality’s Position to:
VLCT Advocacy staff, Josh Hanford and Samantha Sheehan, are available to assist with identifying contacts or drafting messages.
Guidelines for Requesting Consideration from a Legislator
- Give credit and say thanks
- Be concise and offer solutions
- Make your conversation personal
- Give the local angle
- Be an accurate resource
- Don’t be a stranger: cultivate the larger relationship of which this is only a part
Also, know that while email leaves a record that can be stored and referred to later, legislators receive so many emails every day that many go unread despite legislators' best efforts. So if you send an email, follow up with a phone call to remind the legislator of your message.