Pokagon Band of Indians Refuse First Casino Payment

The money distribution that arose out of a compact between an Indian tribe and local officials is being brought into question. The first payment is now being withheld. The Pokagon Band of Pottawatomi Indians has concerns about the way that their money is being distributed. They have withheld the first payment from their casino in New Buffalo, Michigan. The tribe is claiming that the funds generated from their Four Winds Casino are being misappropriated. The money in question is said to be around $3 million a year. The Local Revenue Sharing Board is asking that the payment be made immediately. The band is calling into question the Board's compliance with the compact. The outcome could make for significant differences in the amount of money that is distributed. The school district is pushing for the elimination of funding formulas and the addition of the adopted distribution method of the school district. If the funding formulas were dropped, significant changes would occur in the money distribution. New Buffalo Township's piece of the money would drop from $739,921 to $498,021. Berrien County would have their portion slashed from $623,098 to $538,161. The school district would make out the best in this scenario. Their allotment would go from $971,126 to $1.89 million.

< Previous		Next >