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Washington tribe agrees to payments7 February 2008WASHINGTON -- As reported by the Columbian: "The Cowlitz Tribe has agreed to make payments in lieu of property taxes to local governments reflecting the full value of its proposed casino complex, not the existing value of the largely vacant land. "That unwritten agreement removes one contentious issue as the county prepares to negotiate a new memorandum of understanding with the tribe for the proposed casino complex west of La Center. "It also means that Clark County and other local governments stand to reap more than $3 million a year for lost property taxes upon completion of a $510 million casino resort. "...If the tribe wins federal approval to create its initial reservation on the 152-acre site along the west side of Interstate 5, no state or local governments will be able to tax the tribe. However, the tribe can volunteer to make payments in lieu of taxes. "The 2004 memorandum of understanding, or MOU, requires the tribe to compensate the county and other local districts twice a year for property taxes that would be lost if the land is taken off tax rolls. It makes no mention of compensation for the future value of a fully developed site, but Lowry said following Tuesday's discussion that the county always has considered that to be one of the MOU's cornerstones..." |