SWPPD sends in-lieu of tax payments to area towns

    The communities of Hamlet, Palisade, Culbertson, Hayes Center, Haigler and Trenton received “in-lieu of tax” payments from Southwest Public Power District (SWPPD) totalling $82,322.71.
    Customers in those communities are served directly by SWPPD, and the payments represent 5% of the 2020 electric sales within the incorporated villages.
    Tax payments were $2,052.78 on Hamlet customer sales, $18,039.74 in Palisade, $40,130.75 in Culbertson, $12,820.56 in Hayes Center $1,703.43 in Trenton and $7,575.45 in Haigler.
    The payments are divided between the villages, counties and school districts based on the ratio established by their individual tax levies each year.
    In 2020, approximately 28% of the money went to villages, 15% to counties and 57% to the school districts, according to SWPPD officials.