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About Siletz news II. ([Place of publication not identified] : $b [publisher not identified]) 1989-???? | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 1991)
Volume III, Number 1 Siletz News II was later used to reduce the tax rate down to 1.5% in a draft o f a Land Acquisition Bill that calls for the transfer of an additional 11,500 acres of B.L.M. public domain lands to the Tribe. Additionally, the Grand Ronde Reservation Plan (published in November, 1985) correctly identifies the taxes paid by the B.L.M. to county governments. The agreement reached between Grand Ronde and the three counties affected by the creation the Grand Ronde Res ervation required the Tribe to pay $1 per acre tax each year to the appropriate county for a period of twenty years, regardless of timber harvested. It seems certain that tribal officials signing yearly checks as great as $ 133,000 to Lincoln County knew that the Tribe just to the north was paying less than $12,000 a year in “continuing” payments to the counties in its area. Eight letters from the County’s Legal Counsel and the Board o f Commissioners have been removed from County files, an action that makes it impossible to determine who knew what when at the County. But it seems certain that Lincoln County financial officers would have noticed that the first yearly payment re ceived from the Tribe in 1985 for the amount of $180,171.08 for taxes levied on 3,620 acres o f former public domain lands was far in excess of the $22,660 received the same year from the B.L.M., which still managed and paid taxes on 20,080 acres of public domain lands in Lincoln County. W hile it is unclear whether the overpayments were communicated to the Board of Commissioners, the Commission repeatedly used the mistaken 5% tax rate in page 3 public meetings and in official communictions to the Tribe and members of the U.S. Congress during the Tribe’s recent land acquisition efforts. A resolution in favor of the Tribe ’ s effort to acquire additional forest lands passed by the Board in Novem ber, 1988 makes no mention o f a specific rate, but it does request that the final legislation include “retention of tax revenues for provision of county services. Payments should continue in perpetuity based on gross revenues from timber sales at a percentage to be determined.” TheGooseEggNow Delores Pigsley, current Chair of the Siletz Tribal Council, refused to comment on the payments. Lincoln County Commissioner Andy Zedwick suggested that tribal officials schedule time on the Board of Commissioners’ workshop schedule to discuss the matter. “W hat we need to do,” Zedwick said, “is to go back and produce those records and see what that land was actually contributing to the tax roll and come up with a fair percentage from that, which I am sure will be less than the 5% amount.” “We want to treat people fair,” Zedwick added. Asked whether the County would be able to refund any excess taxes paid by the Tribe, Zedwick was less optimistic. “With the financial conditions the way they are, I couldn’t obligate the County to pay back money.” W hat about a line of credit for future payments? “There might be something worked out that way,” Zedwick said. The Siletz News II is a publication of the Siletz Free Press, Inc., a non-profit organization controlled by enrolled members of the Confederated Tribes o f Siletz. This newsletter began in September, 1989 ju st after the editor of the tribal newsletter was fired for refusing to comply with an order to censor the news. Siletz News II aims to provide an uncensored and regular forum for people to express their views on tribal matters. The paper also strives to be eyes in the bushes, making sure that tribal and federal officials remember that people are watching and are eager to hear about unreported doings. Support for this publication comes from sixty paid subscribers. Articles in this issue were written by Andy Viles (with the exception of letters to the editor) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Siletz Free Press, Inc. All work for this issue was volunteer. Special thanks go to Nicholas Viles, Head of the Subscription Department. The Siletz Free Press, Inc. is located at 1541 Taft, Eugene, OR 97402. Year-long subscriptions are available on a sliding- scale for individuals ($2 to $20). The institutional rate is $25.00 per year. Subscriptions include 3 (maybe 4) issues of the Siletz News II mailed at first class postage. Donations are also welcome. Special needs: 5 1/4" computer disks, colored xerox paper, a stapler, business sized envelopes, mailing labels, a tape recorder, and casette tapes.
