Page 12
Spilyay Tym oo, W arm Springs, O regon
Budget: need for new revenue
(C ontinued from page 1)
Q u e stio n : W hat is the re
duction in governm ent opera
tions?
A n s w e r : T o ta l g o v e r n
m en t operations is being cut
by nearly 38 p ercent in 2014.
T his is the largest increm en
tal decrease to th e g o v e rn
m en t in a single budget p e
riod. In 2013 a 15 -p e rc e n t
reduction was m ade, and in
2012 a 12-percent reduction.
In nearly three years the o r
ganization is being forced to
dow nsize to reflect reducing
revenues. T h e changes w e are
m aking are m oving the orga
nization to a “balanced b u d
get;” however, to do so, jobs
are being lost and services cut
back. N o o th er o ptions are
available, if the revenue is n o t
increased.
Q u e stio n : W hat is the es
tim ated job loss related to this
reduction?
A n sw er: Currendy, the re
d u c tio n is e stim a te d to be
anywhere from 40 to 60 p o
sitions. I t is hard to finalize
the total job loss at this time;
h o w e v e r, to re a c h th e r e
q u ire d $2.65 m illio n a d d i
tional reduction to operations
needed, inevitably jobs will be
lo st due to the lack o f rev
enue sources. Tribal m em ber
preference will be considered
at all tim es w hen determ in
ing positions being eliminated.
Q u e stio n : W hat is the re
serve balance?
A n s w e r : I t is c u rre n tly
$9.2 million, drawing $3.9 mil*-
lion in 2014. T his is the low
est balance the reserves have
ever b e e n ...
Q u e stio n : W hat new rev
enue sources are the tribes
currently w orking on? ,.
A n s w e r : W arm S prings
V entures initiatives su ch as,
unm anned vehicles, and ex
pansion o f Geo-Visions. T he
tribes are also analyzing all
o ff reservation lands to uti
lize for potential developm ent
to generate funding fo r the
tribes. We realize revenue gen
e r a tio n is key to th e
sustainability o f the organiza
tion, and W arm Springs Ven
tures, all enterprises, and the
tribal governm ent are explor
ing options w herever possible
to generate new revenue.
Q u e s tio n : W here did all
the m oney go?
A n sw er: T he tribes have
been operating a deficit b ud
get for som e years now. T he
decline in revenue was never
reflected through cuts in o p
erations o r tribal distributions.
T he m oney w ent to pay per
N ovem ber 13, 2013
On Veterans Day
capita, bonuses, senior distri
butions, and to cover som e
operational shortfalls. In 2011
and 2012, the bonuses w ere
directly p a id fro m rev en u e
reserves.
Q u e s tio n : W hat is the in
direct revenue, and w hy are
som e departm ents n o t taking
as large o f cuts as others?
A n sw er: Indirect depart
m ents are those departm ents
th at provide in-direct services
to carry o u t grants and c o n
tracts: Utilities, H u m a n Re
s o u r c e s , F in a n c e , T rib a l
Council, Mail and R eception,
are a few to m ention that are
d ire c t s u p p o r t se rv ic e s to
th o se g ran ts a n d contracts.
T h e trib e s sign a ssu ra n c e
agreem ents w h en accepting
any o u tsid e fu n d in g th a t a
certain level o f services will
be provided by the tribes in
conjunction w ith the grants
and contracts. We are legally
obligated to m aintain levels
o f services in these in-direct
areas if w e w ish to continue
being su p p o rte d by outside
funding sources. T h e indirect
revenue to the tribes in 2014
am ounts to $4.2 million. T his
is the largest operating rev
enue source to the tribes at
this time.
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
Veteran Harvey Jim, Eliza Brown Jim and family joined the Veterans Day Parade
in Madras on Monday. Their parade float included commemorative cards for
Chester VanPelt Sr. (1950s and Korea), Reggie Jim (Vietnam), Johnny George
(1950s and Korea), Henry Jim (Vietnam, Germany - 1969-1972), Lawrence
Brown (WWIF), and Curtis Brown (WWII and Korea),
At the Art Show
Help your m o u se find
1OO% real cheese.
Online Ordering
@ abbys.com
Dine in, carry out and delivery.
cAbbijb
1235 SW H w y. 97
L egendary P izza "
541-475-6363
Painted drum by Charlene Dimmick. The Tribal Member
Art Show is on display in the Changing Exhibits Gallery.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday.
©2013 Abby’s Inc - Delivery is within designated area.