Tribe decreases budget by $2M

By TEDDYE SNELL

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS March 11, 2008 05:32 pm

— The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council decreased its budget by $2 million during Monday night’s regular meeting, citing an adjustment in the tribe’s tobacco surtax, and costs to absorb the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation.
Following the decrease, the tribe’s budget for 2007-2008 stands at $437 million.
According to HACN CEO David Southerland, May 1 is the final day to transfer employees to Cherokee Nation. All but four have either opted to take four-week payment plans to leave voluntarily, or have found acceptable, “non-comparable” employment elsewhere.
In other business, councilors approved resolutions authorizing:
• The Department of Children, Youth and Family Services to submit an application for youth shelter services to the U.S. Family and Youth Services Bureau, Runaway and Homeless Youth Program.
• The Department of Children Youth and Family Services to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Health Services, Family Violence Prevention and Services Program, for Victims of Family Violence.
• Articles of incorporation of Cherokee Nation Community Association Corporation.
• A grant application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Native Americans.

What’s next
The next regular meeting of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, April 14, in Council Chambers at the W.W. Keeler Complex, west of Tahlequah.