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Oklahoma tribes offer state more than gaming
By Ann Marcy/City Editor
Weatherford Daily News On Line
Sunday January 4, 2004
A gaming compact between Oklahoma and the tribes headquartered here is only part
of the economic potential for public and private partnerships with tribes, attorney
Phil Busey of Oklahoma City said.
Busey represents the Delaware Nation, other tribal governments, and minority and
small businesses.
Under Gov. Brad Henry's proposal, he said the state would receive a graduating three
to six percent of net revenues from Class III gaming type machines, as defined by
Oklahoma Law. The state's three race tracks would be allowed up to 350 Class III
type machines as well, he said.
Indian casinos could also keep their own Class II games and could add non-house
table games under the proposal.
Only Class III games require a compact and revenue sharing with the state, he said.
Oklahoma already has 50 Indian gaming establishments.
"The Gold River casino owned by the Delaware Nation in Anadarko, although remote,
has been successful and has enabled them to greatly reduce dependency on federal
monies," he said.
Busey considers the proposal fair to the smaller tribes but said he does not know
about the problems between the Creek and Cherokee that are said to be holding up
the compact.
The state and the tribes hope to complete the compact during this year's legislative
session, he said.
Indian gaming originated with the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act passed by
Congress in 1988 as a funding source for tribal governments.
Today it is a $14 billion industry nationwide, and the single most important revenue
source for tribal governments.
"However, I hope to also demonstrate to you the importance of non-gaming economic
development activity by tribes and the positive influence this can have on the Oklahoma
economy," he said.
"An important economic development potential we have in Oklahoma is not being developed,"
Busey said.
Tribes already are becoming involved in funding for their neighboring communities,
he said.
Seneca, Mo., and Anadarko have approached tribes in their areas for financing help,
he said.
The Eastern Shawnee have agreed to a letter of intent that would allow it to take
over Seneca's wastewater treatment facility and issue minority tribal bonds to build
a
new plant to lease back to the town. The tribe would have three years to make the mandated repairs. The city has been given nine months.
Anadarko has approached the Delaware Nation for a similar project, Busey said.
Schools in Caddo County also have approached the Delaware to buy their school buses
and lease them back, saving a large capital expense.
The opportunities of partnerships between tribes and private businesses are greater
than those between tribes and governments, he said.
"I am not sure they (the state's political leaders) understand how the power of
having 39 federally recognized tribes or 'nations' in Oklahoma and the business advantages these tribes can bring in partnership with rural communities," he said.
As recognized governments, tribes have powers that include raising funds through
bond indentures and access to federal grants and resources that can benefit not
only their people, but also the surrounding communities.
He cited tribal advantages in securing shares of
government spending under mandated
minority contracts with federal agencies; and minority preferences in contracting as small businesses and socially disadvantaged businesses.
Weatherford Daily News On Line
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5721 NW 132nd Street
OKC, OK 73142
Ph: 405.721.7776
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