US Agency Pays $5.6 Million to South Dakota Local Government

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Tim Johnson says the U.S. Department of Interior has designated more than $5.6 million that will go to 31 South Dakota counties as payment in lieu of property taxes.

Johnson says the Black Hills National Forest, national grasslands and national parks are tremendous assets to South Dakota, but they pay no local property taxes. He says payments in lieu of taxes give communities additional money to support schools, county roads and other services.

Payments in lieu of taxes go to counties that contain non-taxable federal land.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.