County questioning Spokane Tribe off-reservation gaming deal

Wednesday, August 29, 2012  

Some officials in Spokane County, Washington, are trying to back out of gaming deal with the Spokane Tribe.

The deal requires the tribe to pay $600,000 to the county and the city of Airway Heights for the first year of operation of the casino. Payments would go up every year based on municipal services provided by local governments.

But some officials says a provision that bars the county from taking sides on the tribe's land-into-trust application is illegal. One commissioner is threatening to file a lawsuit of some sort.

The county, however, can't back out unless Airway Heights agrees. The city council has voted against reopening the deal.

Get the Story:
County denied voice on casino (The Spokesman Review 8/29)

Opinion: Reject an off-reservation casino for the Spokane Tribe (8/7)