To the editor:
I appreciate the interest of F. Josephine Arrowood and others who are working to educate themselves about Grand Traverse Band (GTB) 2% funds. The GTB together with six additional Native American Tribes in August of 1993 signed a consent judgment with the then governor of Michigan. In the consent judgment, when referring to the 2% funds, it states: “Each tribe shall determine which local unit or units of government shall receive payments and the amount thereof: provided however, the guidelines governing the tribes in making said determinations shall be based upon compensating said local units of government for governmental services provided to the tribes.”
Later in the court consent judgment, it states that “each local unit of government shall receive no less than an amount equivalent to its share of ad valorem property taxes that would otherwise be attributed to the class III gaming facility if that site were subject to such taxation.”
I want to be clear. The Grand Traverse Band is doing nothing wrong. The GTB 2% application helps clarify the intent for the funds: “Under the terms of the consent decree, which settled Tribes v. Engler (Case No 1:90CV-611, U.S. District. Ct. West. District. Mich.) the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, as defined in the stipulation has agreed to pay 2% of its video gaming revenue to local units of government (i.e. local township, village, city, county board of commissioners, public school system).” In the previous quote, the Tribe has underlined what they believe is most important. Are commissioners adhering to what the Grand Traverse Band is emphasizing? What guidelines are our commissioners following when determining 2% requests? How are these requests covering the cost of services the county provides?
William J Bunek Suttons Bay About the author: Mr. Bunek represents northern Bingham and southern Suttons Bay townships on the County Board of Commissioners.
