CTBA Members Payments To State Top $134 Million

By California Political Desk

The six California Indian tribes who are members of the California Tribal Business Alliance sent $8 million in quarterly payments to the state today, funds that go to the state’s General Fund and to the fund to support tribes without significant gaming operations.

The latest quarterly payments by the tribes, five of which signed amended compacts with the state last summer, bring the total of their payments to the state to more than

$134 million since the compacts took effect last September.

With annual payments totaling more than $134 million, the CTBA tribes pay more to the state than all other gaming tribes combined.

Under the amended compacts, the member tribes of the Alliance pay into three accounts – the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for tribes with small or no casinos, the state’s General Fund, and a bond fund to repay the General Fund debt to special transportation accounts.

The tribes’ General Fund payments, the so-called Additional Device Fees, are based on how many slot machines they have added since the compacts took effect.

In total, for the third quarter of 2005, the CTBA tribes paid $2,064,029 to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, $5,998,900 to the General Fund, and $25,202,500 to the bond fund.

The amended compacts are in effect until 2030. They are between the state and the Pala Band of Mission Indians, the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians, the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians, the United Auburn Indian Community, and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians.