Arizona tribe faces vote on sharing casino profits

Monday, Aug. 14, 2000 | 1:55 a.m.

He does believe it will provide relief within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, giving members a chance to get the things they need for their families.

"I'm sure it's going to pass," said French, 61, who helped engineer the casino profits petition that led to the vote. "You're putting this before people who have needs."

Tribal members will vote Sept. 5 on whether to distribute 35 percent of the profits from the tribes' Casino Arizona to individual members. Right now, casino profits go to the tribe's general budget.

The public vote follows petition drives, meetings and an offer by the Tribal Council to make $1,000 annual payments to members. It also ups the ante from a previous demand by dissidents for a 25 percent split of the profits from the casinos east of Scottsdale.

Some tribal members estimate the casinos bring in about $600 million a year, but the tribe has never released financial figures and isn't required to do so under state or federal laws. If the figure is accurate, each of the 6,200 members would get about $34,000 annually.

The vote comes as the tribe is preparing to open its first permanent casino building, which is scheduled to be ready Sept. 5.

The profit-sharing issue has overshadowed others in the election, when voters will also elect three council members. At least four candidates are pushing for the payouts. Two incumbents are among eight of the nine members who oppose the payouts.

Teacher Kelly Washington isn't convinced the payouts are a cure-all for the community.

"As a general rule, I don't think it's healthy for government to hand out cash - in any type of society," Washington said. "The main thing is that we're one people. We have to use this money to help the most people."

If the voters OK the payouts, Salt River will be the third Arizona tribe to distribute regular payments from casino profits to members.

The Tohono O'odham near Tucson and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation near Fountain Hills distribute casino profits.

Fort McDowell has distributed payments of up to $30,000 annually to about 800 members since 1994.

The ripple effect of casino money at Fort McDowell has helped build a health care center, library, park and dozens of homes.

At Salt River, more than 700 members signed petitions demanding that the Tribal Council start the complex, three- to six-month process of getting federal approval to distribute casino cash.

Tribal leaders tried to defuse the situation in April by offering members an annual $1,000 payment. French said the council later upped the ante to $2,000, but people weren't satisfied.

Tribal President Ivan Makil is opposed to sharing casino profits with members, but, like Fort McDowell officials, wants better homes, water systems, health care and other social services on the reservation. Makil has said the 35 percent payout formula would take too much of the money needed for community improvements.

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