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Minnesota County Braces for Loss of Casino Taxes

MINNESOTA – As reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune: "The biggest taxpayer in northwestern Minnesota's Mahnomen County, paying $900,000 to $1 million a year, will go off the tax rolls "very shortly," and officials say the results could be devastating.

"The White Earth Band's Shooting Star Casino soon will become part of Indian trust land, which is exempt from property taxes. The pending cash crunch already has affected planning for a new county jail.

"Mahnomen County's government gets more than $400,000 a year -- more than 15 percent of its total property tax revenue -- from the casino. Other casino tax dollars go to Mahnomen city government, the state and local schools.

"Losing the revenue 'would be devastating,' said County Board Chairman John Peterick, noting that the county has few large businesses and doesn't have the tax base to make up the loss.

"…However, officials of the band have met with the county to talk about paying some money in lieu of taxes, although there are no firm figures yet.

"…Except for Shooting Star, Minnesota casinos sit on land that is tax-exempt because it is held by the federal government in trust for the Indian band…"

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