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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2019)
smok signflz JUNE 1, 2019 3 Tribe opposes plan to eliminate gaming losses as an Oregon state tax deduction By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor June • Wednesday, June 12 – Tribal Council meeting, 5 p.m., Governance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304. • Wednesday, June 12 – Community Input meeting, 5:30 p.m., Tribal gym, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2250. • Thursday, June 13 – Community Development/Housing Home Own- ership community meeting, 6 p.m., Tribal Community Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2401. • Wednesday, June 26 – Tribal Council meeting, 5 p.m., Governance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304. • Wednesday, June 26 – Family Night Out, 4:30 p.m., Governance Center campus, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2034. • Sunday, June 30 – Tribal Council nominations, 11 a.m., Community Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304. July • Thursday, July 4 – Independence Day. Tribal offices closed. • Wednesday, July 10 – Tribal Council meeting, 5 p.m., Governance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304. • Thursday, July 11-Sunday, July 14 – Veterans Summit & Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow. Uyxat Powwow Grounds, 9600 S.W. Hebo Road. 541-480-5932. • Friday, July 12-Sunday, July 14 – Elders Marketplace, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Spirit Mountain Casino, 26820 S.W. Salmon River Highway. 503- 689-5005. • Wednesday, July 24 – Tribal Council meeting, 5 p.m., Governance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304. • Wednesday, July 24 – Tribal Council Candidates Forum, 6 p.m., Tribal Community Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304. Lamprey harvesting schedule announced The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife set the lamprey harvest season at Willamette Falls from Saturday, June 1, through Wednesday, July 31. Harvesting is allowed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays through Mondays. Harvesting is prohibited Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Harvesting is restricted to the east side of Willamette Falls and does not include the Horseshoe Area at the peak of the falls. Gear is restricted to hand or hand-powered tools only. A permit is required, but Tribal members are allowed to use their Tribal enrollment card in lieu of a state-issued permit. In addition, Tribal members can harvest for distribution to other Tribal members. However, the distribution must be done without charge. Harvests must be recorded on an ODFW harvest card available from the Grand Ronde Natural Resources Department or by contacting the Clacka- mas ODFW Office, 17330 S.E. Evelyn St., Clackamas. Harvest cards must be filed by Aug. 31. People planning on harvesting lamprey should stop by the Natural Re- sources office off Hebo Road and pick up an information packet. For more information, call 503-879-2376. Official Tribal Facebook pages • Smoke Signals: www.facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR/ • Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde: www.facebook.com/CTGRgov • Grand Ronde Tribal Council: www.facebook.com/ TheConfederatedTribesOfGrandRondeTribalCouncil • Grand Ronde Health & Wellness: www.facebook.com/GRHWC • Spirit Mountain Community Fund: www.facebook.com/ SpiritMountainCommunityFund • Youth Education: www.facebook.com/ CTGRYouthEducation • Grand Ronde Station: www.facebook.com/ GrandRondeStation • Grand Ronde Royalty: www.facebook.com/ CTGRRoyalty • Community Garden: www.facebook.com/ GrandRondeCommunityGarden • Food Bank: www.facebook.com/GrandRondeFoodBank • Youth Council: www.facebook.com/CTGRYouthCouncil • Social Services Department: www.facebook.com/CTGRSocialservices/ • Children & Family Services: www.facebook.com/CTGRCFS/ • Grand Ronde Higher Education: www.facebook.com/ Grand-Ronde-Higher-Ed • Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department: www.facebook.com/ Grand-Ronde-Tribal-Police-Department • Grand Ronde Cultural Education: www.facebook.com/ Grand-Ronde-Cultural-Education SALEM – The Grand Ronde Tribe, as part of the Oregon Tribal Gaming Alliance, is opposing a legislative move to eliminate the tax break that allows gamblers to deduct losses from wagering trans- actions from their taxable income. Currently, Oregon gamblers can deduct gambling losses up to – but not more than – the amount of money they win by gambling. The tax break costs the state almost $6 million a year, according to the Legislative Revenue Office. The state deduction resembles a similar incentive offered by the Internal Revenue Service. Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier, Tribal lobbyist Justin Martin and Spirit Mountain Casi- no General Manager Stan Dillon attended a House Revenue Com- mittee hearing on Monday, May 13. “This is a very sharp impact on Indian Country,” Martin said. “The reality is the money from those cus- tomers goes toward us being able to provide essential governmental services.” “It would be a true disincentive to play,” Dillon said. He added that high-stakes players factor in their ability to deduct losses on their tax returns when they decide how much to wager. “(Oregon Tribal Gaming Alliance) requests that the Legislature slow down and take a look at what the true impacts of SB 212A will be on our casino patrons, and ultimately Oregon Tribes,” Mercier said. “Tax- ing a player’s winnings without cred- iting his or her losses will drastically increase how much a player is out of pocket. This will reduce the player’s future play and consequently Tribal revenue. The impact on Tribal com- munities will be significant.” The Tribal representatives also complained that there was no gov- ernment-to-government consulta- tion regarding the proposal or its potential effects on Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes. “We are hopeful that you as a champion of the government-to-gov- ernment process will listen and look closely at our concerns before moving forward,” stated a letter from OTGA Chair Gary George to House Speaker Tina Kotek. “We see SB 212A as essentially a pass- through tax that takes revenue away from Tribes, affecting Tribes’ ability to provide essential govern- mental services. All of Oregon’s Tribes continue working toward self-sufficiency, including funding programs such as health care, hous- ing, education, natural and cultural resources, and public safety. Tribal gaming revenue is key to Oregon’s rural economy.” Senate Bill 212 narrowly passed the Oregon Senate in March. Law- makers on the House Revenue Committee did not take action after the public hearing on May 12. Name changes in court Tribal Court provides both minor and adult name changes to enrolled members for a filing fee of only $30. If you have any questions or would like to request a packet, contact Tribal Court at 503-879-2303. Community Input meeting The Grand Ronde Tribe’s annual Community Input meeting on programs and projects will be held at the Tribal gym on Wednesday, June 12, starting with dinner at 5:30 p.m. (roast beef in gravy, mashed potatoes and salad) After a brief introduction, the meeting mostly involves visiting open house tables with their posters and photos on programs and projects and providing your comments. Open house tables will include: • Community Development Plan • Tribal Transportation Plan – Improvement Projects – maps & photos • Creekside Elders Community, home ownership, apartments & workforce housing, maps, floor plans, photos • Behavioral Health Addition project under construction – floor plans & photos • Early Childhood Education Building Addition Completion - floor plans & photos • Procurement & Information Services building project (diagrams) • Plans for new Grand Ronde-Dallas bus route and local Grand Ronde connector • Geographic Information System: UAV drone and drone pilot • Other department/program tables will include Social Services, Health & Wellness, Dental, Education, Cultural Resources, Social Services, Police, Emergency Management, Food Pantry and Rec- reation, Hunting & Fishing. The meeting will end with door prizes including a Pendleton blanket. This meeting is offered as an opportunity for members to provide comments and suggestions that will help guide Tribal programs and grant applications (i.e. ANA, ICDBG, CCDF, Head Start, CSBG and others). Those unable to attend can submit written comments and suggestions to Kim Rogers, Planning & Grants manager, Confederat- ed Tribes of Grand Ronde, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347. For additional information, contact Rogers at 503-879-2250.
