"When the tribal-state gaming compacts were first negotiated back in 1999 with then-Governor Gray Davis, a special fund was created in the State Treasury called “the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund” (SDF). The SDF was established to receive payments from tribes that had gaming devices prior to the signed compacts.

The money in the SDF was available for appropriation by the Legislature for a number of purposes including grants for programs designed to address gaming addiction and grants for the support of state and local government agencies impacted by tribal government gaming.

Impacted communities formed “Indian Gaming Benefit Committees” consisting of local government and tribal government representatives. In our community in Santa Barbara County, our Indian Gaming Benefit Committee is made up of representatives from Santa Barbara County as well as Solvang city government and two representatives from our tribe, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. Over the past few years we have worked diligently as a team to fund various programs locally – to the tune of approximately $1.3 million annually.

Unfortunately, Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget plan strips all SDF monies from the local Indian Gaming Benefit Committees, taking away the casino impact mitigation grants. And he can do this since the compact allows for the reappropriation of funds for a number of purposes, including “any other purpose specified by law.”"

Get the Story:
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Chairman Vincent Armenta: Dim future for local projects under governor’s budget (The Capitol Weekly 7/10)