"Recently there have been a number of editorials and letters to the editor regarding the potential annexation into the Chumash reservation of 1,400 acres located near the intersection of Highways 246 and 154.

I would like to expand on my comments from last spring regarding this potential annexation and the impacts it would have on our county.

When land is annexed in a “fee to trust” process, it is taken entirely out of county jurisdiction in perpetuity and added to the reservation of the tribal applicant. If their application is successful, the Chumash would take the 1,400 acres out of the county’s land use jurisdiction and it would become totally exempt from paying any property, sales or transient occupancy tax that might be generated from future development of the property."

Get the Story:
Dorreen Farr: Tribal annexation would take huge financial toll (The Solvang Valley News 12/8)

Also Today:
Chumash Present List of Signatures Supporting Camp 4 Move (The Santa Barbara Independent 12/8)

Related Stories:
Opinion: Community depends on Chumash Tribe's successes (11/21)
Opinion: Groups spread false information about Chumash Tribe (11/17)
Opinion: Chumash Tribe makes casino workers sign petition (11/10)
Opinion: Chumash Tribe money and influence everywhere (10/20)
Richard Gomez: Enough fear-mongering about Chumash Tribe (10/14)
Opinion: Chumash Tribe benefits the community with its casino (10/6)
Vincent Armenta: Chumash Tribe shares facts about land plans (9/29)
Opinion: Neighbors aren't buying Chumash Tribe's story on land (9/22)
Chumash Tribe starts website to support land-into-trust efforts (9/20)
Richard Gomez: Facing the facts on Chumash Tribe's land plans (9/15)
Chumash Tribe to hold public meeting on land-into-trust plan (9/13)
Editorial: Chumash Tribe should be more open about land plan (9/8)
Opinion: Some 'facts' about Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bid (9/2)
Vincent Armenta: Opponents cry wolf over Chumash trust bid (9/1)
Opponents raise alarms about Chumash Tribe's trust land bid (9/1)