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FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2001

Ten New Mexico tribes on Thursday signed consent degrees to pay a total of $91 million they owe the state.

The tribes owe the money as the result of gaming compacts signed in 1997. The compacts require 16 percent of slot machine revenues to be paid to the state.

The tribes had long protested the rate. Last year, they all agreed to stop paying, prompting a lawsuit by Attorney General Patricia Madrid.

The lawsuit led to new compacts with an 8 percent revenue sharing rate. The compacts were approved by the Legislature under the condition the tribes work out a settlement with Madrid on back payments.

It appears the settlement covers all the fees the tribes owed. Isleta Pueblo will be paying the most at $33.4 million. The Jicarilla Apache Nation will pay the least at $900,000.

Pojoaque Pueblo and the Mescalero Apache Nation didn't sign the agreement because they still believe the 16 percent rate is too high. Madrid would like to continue negotiating with them.

Get the Story:
10 Tribes Agree to Pay $91 Million to State (The Albuquerque Journal 8/10)
Lawmaker Objects to AG's Plan for Casino Funds (The Albuquerque Journal 8/10)

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