KUOW: Washington county relies on tribal gaming revenue

Tuesday, April 19, 2011  

"Prosecutor Mark Roe is sitting in his Everett office, and he's holding a photocopy of a check.

Roe: "$86,864."

It's a donation from the Stillaguamish Tribe, and it's just enough to save a deputy prosecutor's job for one year.

Roe: "I kept a copy of that check, because I don't know about you, but I never held a check that big. When you reach across the fence because you need a cup of sugar, that's a pretty big cup of sugar from a pretty good neighbor."

Roe says his office has asked Native American tribes for money in the past. But this time he had a very specific request.

Roe: "It's the first time I've gone out to ask them to fund a deputy prosecutor position and really have nothing to offer in return. All I could say was, You know, we're in trouble."

Roe's had to lay off four of his 12 deputy prosecutors in the district court because of recent budget cuts. He says the money from the Stillaguamish Tribe saved him from laying off yet another. The tribe can afford to give the money because business is good.

Commercial: "Angel of the Winds, the world's friendliest casino.""

Get the Story:
Snohomish County Turns To Tribes For Bailout (KUOW 4/19)