While Sullivan County approved the establishment of up to five Indian-owned casinos, they are charging a steep admission fee to the tribes.
Sullivan County legislators voted 6-3 Thursday to conditionally support Gov. George Pataki's settlement with the tribes, but the county will tax each of the casinos $15 million annually.
Sullivan County legislator Jodi Goodman, who represents the towns of Fallsburg and Liberty, voted for Pataki's settlement because of the economic benefits the cluster of casinos would bring for the economically-ailing county.
"We are a very depressed county," Goodman said. "We have no economic development. Our youth are moving away."
Pataki's legislation - designed to settle five tribal land claims - states the development of resort-style casinos would generate approximately 48,500 jobs in Sullivan County.
Sullivan County's approval Thursday comes with even more conditions than Cayuga County's settlement approval with the Cayuga Nation of New York and the Seneca-Cayugas of Oklahoma.
While Caygua County's major conditional change was to be held harmless by the state for sales tax losses, Sullivan County's list of conditions include that each tribe negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the county and pay $15-million-a-year impact fee to the county, as well as pay sales tax on retail goods to non-Indians.
Moreover, the county requires the state to compensate it if a tribe does not pay its share of local taxes on retail goods or the $15 million impact fee.
Sullivan County already has signed memorandums of understanding including those terms with two tribes, the Akwesasne/St. Regis Mohawks and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Goodman said.
The other three tribes with proposed settlements - the Cayuga Nation, the Seneca-Cayugas and the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin - have yet to negotiate memorandums of understanding with Sullivan County.
"They can't come to our county without them," Goodman said.
The Seneca-Cayugas, however, said in their settlement with the state that they prepared to meet the county's financial provisions.
"We've already committed to that in our settlement agreement," said Scott Wood, who sits on the Seneca-Cayugas business committee and works as a legal counsel for the tribe.
The Seneca-Cayugas of Oklahoma agreed to pay $2 million collectively to Seneca and Cayuga counties.
Cayuga Nation leaders could not be reached for comment Thursday night.
Sullivan County's resolution also stipulates the county's approval is preliminary and Sullivan must have a final weigh-in on the governor's legislation as it moves ahead.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Sullivan County legislator Jodi Goodman, who represents the towns of Fallsburg and Liberty, voted for Pataki's settlement because of the economic benefits the cluster of casinos would bring for the economically-ailing county.
"We are a very depressed county," Goodman said. "We have no economic development. Our youth are moving away."
Pataki's legislation - designed to settle five tribal land claims - states the development of resort-style casinos would generate approximately 48,500 jobs in Sullivan County.
Sullivan County's approval Thursday comes with even more conditions than Cayuga County's settlement approval with the Cayuga Nation of New York and the Seneca-Cayugas of Oklahoma.
While Caygua County's major conditional change was to be held harmless by the state for sales tax losses, Sullivan County's list of conditions include that each tribe negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the county and pay $15-million-a-year impact fee to the county, as well as pay sales tax on retail goods to non-Indians.
Moreover, the county requires the state to compensate it if a tribe does not pay its share of local taxes on retail goods or the $15 million impact fee.
Sullivan County already has signed memorandums of understanding including those terms with two tribes, the Akwesasne/St. Regis Mohawks and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Goodman said.
The other three tribes with proposed settlements - the Cayuga Nation, the Seneca-Cayugas and the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin - have yet to negotiate memorandums of understanding with Sullivan County.
"They can't come to our county without them," Goodman said.
The Seneca-Cayugas, however, said in their settlement with the state that they prepared to meet the county's financial provisions.
"We've already committed to that in our settlement agreement," said Scott Wood, who sits on the Seneca-Cayugas business committee and works as a legal counsel for the tribe.
The Seneca-Cayugas of Oklahoma agreed to pay $2 million collectively to Seneca and Cayuga counties.
Cayuga Nation leaders could not be reached for comment Thursday night.
Sullivan County's resolution also stipulates the county's approval is preliminary and Sullivan must have a final weigh-in on the governor's legislation as it moves ahead.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
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