Downieville, CA - November, 5, 2013 - Sierra County issued a past due invoice to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) this past week for monies owed to the County for Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILT). To date, the DFW owes nearly $817,996 in delinquent payments to Sierra County. California PILT was established in 1949 to offset the adverse impacts to county property tax revenues resulting when the State acquires property for wildlife management areas. Fish and Game Code Section 1504 specifies that the DFW shall pay annually to the county in which the property is located an amount equal to the county taxes levied upon the property at the time title was transferred to the State. "The DFW has failed to make annual PILT payments in more than a decade, and in some counties, even longer than that," said Paul Roen, the Sierra County board vice-chair. "This loss of property tax revenue year after year impacts Sierra County's general fund, leaving all general fund programs underfunded, and some needs such as animal control completely unmet. We strongly urge the DFW to honor this past due invoice, and resume ongoing annual payments as required by law." In total, the DFW is in arrears to California counties more than $17 million through the 2013-2014 fiscal year.