Though state dollars are drying up at every turn, some of Southwest Alaska is getting unexpected federal support this year.
The Department of the Interior has granted the city of Bethel $5,000 more in federal money than last year for its un-taxable, protected lands.
The money comes from through the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program or PILT. PILT pays communities nationwide for national forests, public lands, national parks and other lands dedicated to water resources, because these lands can’t be developed economically and then taxed.
With the additional funds, Bethel will receive just under $900,000 for the city to use as it pleases.
Danielle Lindoff, a local government specialist for the state of Alaska, says that cites were told to budget for a 25 percent reduction, but instead, last year's numbers were met and exceeded.
The Bethel census area, which includes other nearby communities and about 18,000 people, got a payout that was up to $1.8 million, which is more than last year's $1.7 million.
Lindoff says that funding has also been secured for fiscal year 2017.