NOTICES
Proposed Tribal Council Salary
by Jessie Davis, Vice Chairman
6. To be knowledgeable of and actively involved in negotiating gaming compacts
An ad-hoc committee composed of Administrative Officer Sharon Edenfield,
Human Resources Manager Michele Rowan, and Tribal Council members Lillie
with the state within the requirements of IGRA
7. To effectively deal with the National Indian Gaming Commission on
Butler and myself was assigned the responsibility of conducting a study on and
recommending to Tribal Council a fair and equitable salary for the Tribal Council.
controversial gaming issues
Our recommendation was approved by Tribal Council and is now subject to General
8. To oversee the Gaming Board, which in turn ensures that Chinooks Winds
Council approval.
complies with the tribal/state compact, policies and minimum internal controls
It’s been 13 years since a ballot measure on Tribal Council compensation has
of NIGC, and the gaming ordinance
been taken to the general membership. On Oct. 21, 1989, Resolution No. 90-06
9. To serve as the Board of Directors of the housing program
was referred to ballot. This increased the salary from $5 an hour to $7.31 per hour
10. To serve as the Board of Directors of the tribal health program
with cost of living allowances (COLA) increases. Over the 13 years with COLA,
11. To participate in the legislatively established Oregon Commission on Indian
our present salary increased to $9.83.
Services; to work with state agencies on a govemment-to-govemmenr basis,
What’s the proposed salary for Tribal Council members? Based on our
making certain Gov. John Kitzhaber’s executive order (960-30_ and codified
study, the ad-hoc committee recommended a proposed annual salary of $45,000.
in SB 771) is ongoing
This is comparable to Tribal Level 11, step 6, which would include cost of living
12. To identify the need for, discuss, and adopt tribal policies, ordinances, and
increases and certain fringe benefits: 1) medical and dental insurance, 2) life
codes relative to environment, housing, education, economic development,
and other issues
insurance, and 3) eligibility to participate in the tribe’s 401K plan. Unlike tribal
employees, however, council members won’t be eligible for annual or sick leave,
13. To oversee the Siletz Tribal Gaming Regulatory Agency (STGRA) and the
paid holidays, or overtime.
Gaming Commission to ensure these entities carry out the responsibilities
How much are Siletz council members currently paid? Siletz council
with maximum autonomy and flexibility. Review, revise, and adopt STGRA
members are paid $9.83 per hour, about $3 more than the minimum wage. The
standards, policies, ordinances, and procedures
$9.83 equals about $20,000 annually.
14. To participate in the BIA and IHS budget process and self-governance contract
How does the council salary compare with the salaries paid to Siletz Tribal
negotiations (through the council’s efforts, the Siletz Tribe was among the
staff? The present council salary of $9.83 is comparable to the tribe’s beginning
first 20 in the nation to be designated as a SG tribe)
Level 4, which is less than the first step
15. To respond to the needs of
of a Level 5, which includes such
members who live outside the
It
’
s
been
13
years
since
a
ballot
measure
on
Tribal
Council
positions as maintenance workers, clerks,
11-county service area; to adopt
compensation
has
been
taken
to
the
general
membership.
On
and receptionists.
policies, programs, and funding to
Oct.
21,1989,
Resolution
No.
90-06
was
referred
to
ballot.
This
How does the salary paid to the
address their needs, taking into
increased the salary from $5 an hour to $7.31 per hour with cost
Siletz Tribal Council compare with
consideration tribal program and
of living allowances (COLA) increases. Over the 13 years with
funding constraints
other Oregon tribes? Our survey
COLA, our present salary increased to $9.83.
16. To serve (individual council
revealed that council members of other
members) as liaison to tribal
Oregon tribes are paid between $18 and
committees, i.e. health, education, culture, social services, natural
$50 per hour, which equals annual salaries of $37,440 to $104,000.
resources, etc.
From what source will the increased council salary be paid? Twenty-five
17. In addition to regular duties, to be actively represented in regional and national
percent will come from timber revenue, 25 percent from indirect costs (tribal
Indian organizations, such as the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, NIG A,
administrative costs), and 50 percent from gaming revenue, specifically from the
and NCAI. When attending NCAI meetings, to be involved in subcommittees
Tribal Government Operations category. This will not affect the General Welfare
- finance, banking and taxation; housing; business and employment;
category or per capita payments.
transportation and infrastructure; energy and mineral policy; environmental
What are the responsibilities of council members that warrant an increase
and land use; agriculture and water rights; telecommunications; tribal gaming;
in pay? The Tribal Council position description is not new. We’ve been performing
jurisdiction and tribal government; human, religious and cultural concerns;
these duties for the past 10 years. Specific functions, however, are described below.
health; education; Indian child and family welfare; disabilities; and elders.
To carry out the governmental functions of a sovereign Indian Tribe in the
tribe’s relationships with the U.S. government, the state of Oregon, and other
Indian tribes; to negotiate inter-governmental agreements, i.e. Lincoln City
and municipal services for Chinook Winds
2. To hire, suspend, promote, fire, and provide general supervision over the
general manager and certain other supervised staff
3. To analyze and take action on the tribe’s budget of more than $24 million
annually; to take action on budget recommendations of the general manager
and department heads. Council members must be knowledgeable about and
act on individual program and budget needs.
4. To be involved in local, state, and national Indian issues that impact or have
the potential to impact the Siletz Tribe, including such issues as trust and
taxation, threats to tribal sovereignty, etc.
5. To be knowledgeable of special BIA and IHS regulations, such as the Resource
Allocation Plan (RAP), and to ensure that the tribe complies with such regulations
1.
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SiletzNews
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December 2002
Conclusion: Based on the ad-hoc committee’s study, it was determined that
the council salary should be at least comparable to the tribe’s Level 11, step 6, at
$45,000, with certain benefits specified above, except that council members will
not be eligible for sick or annual leave, paid holidays, or overtime.
This recommendation is based on a study of the salaries paid to tribal staff
and Tribal Councils of other tribes, including Oregon tribes. Unlike tribal
employees who are responsible for their individual program duties, the Tribal
Council’s responsibility is all-encompassing - for integrating all programs under
one tribal umbrella.
The proposed salary is reasonable, equitable, and we believe worthy of tribal
support. The adoption of this proposed salary may have the added benefit of
attracting candidates for Tribal Council who are willing and able to serve who
otherwise could not afford to serve.
We welcome any comments and suggestions you may have regarding
this proposal.