$927,378 awarded is lowest payout total since 1997.

This winter’s “2-percent” payments from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians are down for the third year in a row to the lowest level in more than a decade.

The twice-yearly payments represent two percent of the revenues earned from video slot machines at the tribe’s Leelanau Sands Casino in Peshawbestown and Turtle Creek Casino in Grand Traverse County. The tribe is required to pay out the money to local units of government in the immediate vicinity of tribal casinos for governmental services and “for impacts associated with existence” of tribal casinos in their vicinity under terms of a 1993 federal court consent decree. Since 1994, the tribe has paid out around $18 million in “2-percent” money.

The winter 2008 payout of $927,378 is the lowest since 1997 and about 7.25 percent lower than the amount paid out in the winter of 2007. Winter payouts are generally higher than summer payouts because of the seasonal nature of the gaming business and the timing of the payouts. In the summer of 2007, the tribe paid out $774,763 – down more than four percent from the year before.

This winter’s payout is nearly 15 percent below a record payout of $1,088,905 in January 2003.

“The economy of the state is contracting and the entire country is facing a recession,” said the tribe’s general counsel, John Petoskey. “Business is down everywhere and it’s disappointing for everyone.”

Some 26 percent of the total payout this winter will be paid to units of government in Leelanau County or to non-profit organizations whose applications for the funding were endorsed by local units of government.

The largest single amount going to any unit of government in the tribe’s six county service area, $63,875, is going to Leelanau County under a “government-to-government” agreement. Leelanau County routinely reserves 10 beds at the county jail for prisoners brought in the Tribal Police.

A number of other county programs are also being funded, including:

• The county Building Inspections department will receive $21,000 for laptop computers and other items that will help the department conduct “paperless” inspections.

• The county’s Emergency Management department will receive $50,000 to help buy communications equipment that will be utilized by local schools and the county’s 9-1-1 dispatch center.

• The Leelanau County Family Coordinating Council will receive $20,000 to help fund its “Strengthening Families” programs.

• The county administrator’s office will receive $25,000 to help develop a Veterans Memorial at the new Government Center in Suttons Bay Township.

• The county Planning & Community Development Department will receive $10,495 to purchase a new inkjet plotter for use in creating maps.

• The Leelanau County Solid Waste Council will receive $20,000 to help fund its solid waste recycling programs.

The Suttons Bay Township Board endorsed a “2-percent” application from the Leelanau Christian Neighbors, which will receive $10,000 to fund its food pantry program. The Leland Township Fire Department will receive $11,246 to replace worn out equipment. And Leelanau Township endorsed an application from Saving Birds Through Habitat, which will receive $10,000 to purchase equipment, materials and labor for improvements at the bird sanctuary.
The Tribal Council gathered Feb. 13 to decide on the “2-percent” payments – nearly a month later than they usually meet to consider winter payments.
According to a news release, the tribe received 109 applications for funding totaling $3,606,810, and awarded money to 49 applicants. Several of the organizations outside of Leelanau County that are receiving 2-percent money plan to expend some of it on Leelanau County projects. The organizations include:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan, which will receive $30,000 for mentoring programs in five counties, including Leelanau.

• Child and Family Services of Northwest Michigan, which will receive $20,086 for counseling programs throughout the region plus $9,134 for a “family group decision making” program for troubled families.

• The Michigan Land Use Institute, which will receive $27,967 for a pilot youth farm entrepreneurship program.