BALLOT MEASURE (cont.)
This measure would authorize payment of $5/hour for Tribal Council members for their
official Tribal Council work. Right now they do not receive any pay at all for this
work.
Tribal Council duties include monthly Tribal Council meetings, special meetings, and
outside work on budgets, health programs, educational programs and more. Tribal
Council members work directly with other tribes, the BIA, Indian Health Service, and
other agencies to make sure that important services are delivered to tribal members.
They work with our Senators and Congressment to see that tribal interests are known
and protected in Washington, The Tribal Council sets all the major policies of the
Tribe, puts together its programs and employs and supervises the tribal staff. It
is hard work and it takes time.
Tribal Council members have many personal expenses as a result of their work; such
as car repairs and expenses, babysitting, telephone expenses, travel and so on, that
are never reimbursed. And, of course, the time spent on Tribal Council work is time
not spent on a paying job.
Other tribes pay their Tribal Council members. Both the Warm Springs and Umatilla
tribes pay $5/hour for official Tribal Council work.
(In addition, Umatilla employs
several officers as full-time employees with salaries.) The State of Oregon also
pays members of its boards and commissions.
This measure will help make sure that high quality people will be able to serve on
the Tribal Council, people that might not be able to serve if it meant a complete
lack of income for time spent. While it is not a great deal of money, $5/hour will
help the Council members make ends meet.
Please feel free to discuss this proposal with Tribal Council members between now
and the election.