By Joe Morey News Editor
The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board (TGB) approved repealing a tribal ordinance that provided a discretionary allowance per each TGB member to give out donations and hotel rooms as requested by tribal members. The new rule requires any financial assistance be approved by at least four signatures.
The action was taken at their September 9 tribal council meeting and soon after, a directive was issued by the TGB to the tribal office accounting department and casino staff requiring the four signatures or they could face disciplinary action.
Currently, the TGB is billed by the casino for any hotel rooms that are comped by TGB members, but the directive to the casino now says unless there are four signatures, the casino will be responsible for the bill.
LCO Secretary-Treasurer Bill Trepanier also sent a memo to the tribal office accounting staff which states any request without the four signatures is unauthorized and any such requests that are processed will be grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
“Please ensure that this directive is strictly followed and share this information with all relevant team members to avoid any misunderstandings. It is crucial to maintain adherence to our policies and ensure the responsible handling of tribal funds,” Trepanier states in the memo.
The current action follows a previous similar action in April to require four signatures, but the requests continued. TGB members noted this action is a much stronger way to deal with donation spending that has been happening over recent years.
In the resolution approved on September 9, the TGB stated they recognize that there are emergencies and situations where Tribal Members may need immediate financial assistance; and, in accordance with the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 Section 139E, established the tribal ordinance that allowed for tribal funds be made available to Tribal Members through various safe harbor benefits programs in accordance with Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service Published Revenue Procedure 2014-35; and the TGB enacted the General Welfare Services Immediate Assistance Funds Ordinance Resolution No. 2023-19, also known as the GWE.2; and then on April 15, 2024, approved removing the section and recategorizing it.
The TGB resolution states they do not support the continuance of Tribal Governing Board Members having a quarterly allowance to distribute at that Members discretion as such distributions are not considered safe harbor benefits under the General Welfare Act; and Tribal Governing Board does not want tribal members to be financially liable for funds received through Tribal Governing Board members that is not eligible for income tax exclusion.
The resolution also states the TGB will establish procedures for assistance and will further establish a committee that will oversee the emergency assistance program to ensure that funds are properly distributed to tribal members and such distributions are not overseen by Tribal Governing Board members.
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