During negotiations between the Tribe and the state, Gov. John Engler wanted the Tribe to pay 10 percent of its proceeds from electronic gaming to the state, as long as it had exclusive gaming rights in Michigan, said Frank Cloutier, Tribal spokesman.

The Tribe negotiated to pay 8 percent to the state government and the other 2 percent to local governments and municipalities.

In May and November of every year, the Tribe determines where that 2 percent will go.

Where the money is going

City of Mount Pleasant

Police department intervention task force on schools: $150,000
Youth Services Unit: $370,680
Paving of Crawford Road: $25,000

Total: $545,680

Isabella County

Commission on Aging: $384,330
Mental Health Services: $50,000
HIV/AIDS intervention: $45,000
Tribal CVD program: $75,000
Isabella County Drain Commission data set up: $70,000
Armstrong No. 205 drain: $133,000
Johnson No. 392 drain: $79,000
Neff extension No. 494: $100,000
Countywide Automatic external defibrillators: $70,000
Isabella County Medical Care Facility: $50,000
Isabella County Parks and Recreation: $50,000
Tomah Road: $30,000
Coleman Road: $240,000
Coleman: $200,000
Isabella County Transportation Commission: $3,293.84
In lieu of tax: $36,287.10

Total: $1,615,910.94

Union Township

McDonald Park equipment and paving projects: $60,000
McDonald Park multi rest room/pavilion complex: $75,000

Total: $135,000

Mount Pleasant Public Schools

Community Memorial Stadium track: $3,000
Student resource center: $6,000
Facilities management high area safe work platform: $40,000
Concrete sidewalk replacement: $30,000
State education tax: $32,938.38

Total: $111,938.38

For any local government agency or municipality to receive a portion of the 2-percent allocation, it first must fill out an application.

“In the application they must explain why they want the money and what they will do with it,” Cloutier said. “What they propose must benefit the Tribe in some way.”

After receiving an application, there is a Tribal Council committee consisting of council members that review the requests and then determine what organizations deserve how much money. Then a recommendation is made to the Tribal Council who votes and with a majority the money is allocated.

The Tribe recently won a lawsuit against the State of Michigan so it no longer has to pay 8 percent of slot-machine revenue to the government.

“The state violated our contract by entering into contracts with other Tribes and so we no longer have the exclusive gaming rights in the state,” Cloutier said. “That money is now distributed through the distribution plan to fund other operation costs.”

Since the spring of 1994, the Tribe has given more than $45 million to the local community.

“The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe views the 2 percent as an opportunity,” Cloutier said. “We’ve been able to take the success of the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort and soften the impact of that success on the surrounding community. Our success not only benefits Native Americans, but all of Isabella County and we consider that a winning proposition.”