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California County May Tax Tribal Casino17 February 2003CALIFORNIA – As reported by the Fresno Bee: "Madera County may slap a huge and perhaps historic property tax bill on the Chukchansi Indian casino being built near Coarsegold. "It could be the first time a county property tax has been levied on an Indian-owned casino in the United States. "Indian-affairs officials in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento say they know of no tribe that pays -- or ever has paid -- property taxes on its casino. "Madera County officials say a unique set of legal circumstances gives them authority to tax the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino, expected to open this summer. "The Chukchansi Indians and their casino management company, Cascade Entertainment Group of Sacramento, disagree, according to county documents. "…The county has asked the tribe and Cascade for legal precedents supporting their claim, but has received none. "Unless the legal landscape changes, County Assessor Thomas Kidwell said he will continue to treat the casino parcels as subject to property taxes: "At this instant, I don't see any gray." "The stakes are high for both sides. Proposition 13 caps property taxes at 1% of a parcel's assessed value, which includes land and structures. The tribe has said the casino-hotel complex will cost $150 million to build. At that figure, the casino-hotel would produce $1.5 million in property taxes annually…" |