Lac Courte Oreilles Band seeks property tax deal

Thursday, March 13, 2008  

The Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is seeking a memorandum of understanding over property taxes in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.

The tribe says its members don't have to pay taxes under the 1854 Treaty of LaPointe. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, in a case involving another signatory tribe, said the treaty protected all reservation lands -- even those owned in fee or those that have been allotted.

The tribe submitted an MOU to the town of Bass Lake to exempt tribal members who own land in the town. Town supervisor Pete Sanders said the state could have resolved the issue by working more closely with the tribe instead of leaving it to every local community to resolve.

Get the Story:
Bass Lake considers LCO tax exemption memorandum (The Sawyer County Record 3/12)
pwlat

6th Circuit Decision:
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community v. Michigan (June 26, 2005)

Lower Court Decision:
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community v. Michigan (June 1, 2005)

Supreme Court Decision:
Cass County v. Leech Lake (June 8, 1998)

Related Stories:
Lac Courte Oreilles Band cites tax exemption (2/14)
Michigan tribe wins another ruling in state taxation battle (06/30)