Oneidas release expenditures

Friday, June 10, 2005 | 9:47 a.m.

VERONA, N.Y. -- Marinas, gas stations and a 20-story hotel are among the investments made at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino, where the Oneida Indian Nation has spent roughly $432 million over the past decade.

The nation disclosed its expenditures to officials in the town of Verona, where the tribe's more-than 200 parcels have been assessed at around $400 million. The nation submitted the information as part of its grievance over the assessment, which was upheld by town officials Tuesday.

The nation's tax bill would total more than $8 million. Of that amount, about $5 million would be paid to the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill school district.

Turning Stone, built in 1993, draws four million visitors annually. In October, the nation opened a 20-story hotel tower at the resort that cost $71 million.

Verona Assessor Maurice Warner put Turning Stone back on the tax rolls in April after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Oneidas must pay property taxes and obey local laws on former reservation land that they reacquire. That particular court case involved the City of Sherrill, which foreclosed on 10 parcels owned by the tribe because of unpaid property taxes.

The Oneidas maintain they are a federally recognized tribe, and therefore, cannot be taxed.

Since the decision, the nation has applied to the U.S. Interior Department to put all 18,000 acres it owns in Oneida and Madison counties into federal trust, which could bring full or partial sovereignty and exempt them from taxes.