In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt visited the Yosemite National Park, and described it as “a great solemn cathedral, far vaster and more beautiful than any built by the hand of man.” Residents of Tuolumne County, Calif. like myself are blessed to have that solemn cathedral in our back yard. The wonders of the Yosemite Valley draw millions of tourists to our communities each year to hike, camp and explore this natural treasure.

Our federal lands serve as a living testament to our nation’s commitment to conservation and recreation. However, local governments face unique challenges in maintaining these public trusts. As protected federal lands, these national treasures can’t be taxed and are restricted in their ability to generate local revenue. This leaves local host governments with fewer resources to provide essential services to residents and visitors. 

This is why I went to Washington, D.C. last week with several dozen other county officials from across the country: to share our story with the White House and Congress about the urgent needs we face, particularly as we fight back a historic wildfire season. 

Congress acknowledged our challenges by passing the Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Act in 1976, which created a program to provide funds to counties like ours to offset costs and help make up for lost property tax revenues.  

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