Each Tulalip to get $10,000 payment from casino profits

Members of the Tulalip Tribe have voted 366-217 in favor of giving each member a one-time $10,000 payment from the profits of their successful casino.

The action was taken during a special general council meeting yesterday of the Snohomish County tribe.

Until now the tribe has poured its casino proceeds into long-term improvements such as a major shopping center along Interstate 5, road construction, water and sewer lines, traffic signals, family services and a medical clinic.

But supporters of the per-capita payments said the checks will foster independence, allowing individuals to save for college or make a down payment on a home.

"I think something like this should have happened a long time ago because we've seen profits from our casino go up considerably," said Lorna Henry, who lives on the reservation and is a member of Concerned Citizens for Tribal Rights.

But opponents have said the lump-sum checks may very well foster a new kind of welfare.

"I am afraid of the repercussions," John McCoy, the director of governmental affairs, has said previously. "Why go to work? Why go to school?"

"We don't know how long gaming will be around, so we need to diversify our economic base."

Nationally, only 47 of 201 gaming tribes make per-capita payments to members.

But the issue was raised across the state when the Puyallup tribal council, in a unanimous vote April 14, boosted their individual monthly per-capita payments to $2,000 from $300 for every man, woman and child in the tribe.

The impact of the Puyallup's decision is expected to reverberate through the gaming community as, one by one, tribes face the issue.

McCoy said for years the various tribes have felt pressure to adopt per-capita payments, but the idea was always voted down.

Tulalip Tribal Chairman Herman Williams Jr. said it may be a while before the checks are cut.

"The problem is that our constitution states that we cannot give out a per capita unless we've met all of our financial obligations. The second problem is our monies are already allocated and we have no reserves for per capita at this time.

"I think I know my board of directors very well and they will do everything to make this happen, but it could be some time before this takes place," Williams said.

Henry called that approach a "stalling tactic. ... The money is there," she said.

Henry, 37, said the payments will encourage younger tribal members to go to school, because they will be able to pay for college and won't have to work to help support younger siblings or a single parent.

After the vote, Henry said, "I saw a lot of people crying tears of joy when they left."

Christine Clarridge can be reached at 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com.

Steve Miletich can be reached at 206-464-3302 or smiletich@seattletimes.com.