Opinion: Reject Cayuga Nation's land-into-trust application

By refusing to pay their fair share of property taxes on the properties that the Cayuga Indians purchased from individual homeowners and local businesses, the Cayugas are robbing the taxpayers of Cayuga and Seneca Counties of nearly $1.7 million in unpaid property taxes. And worse yet, this financial burden is growing each year.

The only thing worse than taxation is taxation administered unfairly. This inequity forces the hardworking taxpayers in both counties to make up the difference in tax revenue. The Cayugas knew full well when they purchased the property that they were under the same obligation you and I have to pay our property taxes.

Their refusal to pay their fair share of property taxes hurts our school children, as well as the small businesses in our communities that cannot compete with Cayuga owned businesses that pay no property or sales taxes, and who refuse to obey the same laws and regulations as their neighbors. In fact, a number of local gas stations and convenience stores have been forced to close because of the continued refusal of the Cayugas to follow the law and compete on a level playing field.