A taxation dispute between the Chehalis Tribe and Thurston County, Washington, is before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The tribe owns 51 percent of Great Wolf Lodge. The facility is located on trust land but Judge Benjamin Settle said the county can tax improvements on the 49 percent of the business that is owned by Great Wolf Resorts Inc., a non-Indian company.

Settle has ordered the two sides into mediation but the tribe wants to postpone until the 9th Circuit resolves the case, which would presumably be sometime next year. The tribe also appears to be waiting for the election of a new county tax assessor.

The tribe has contributed to Democrat Steve Drew, who says he would like to negotiate the tax issue.

Get the Story:
2 candidates seek assessor position (The Olympian 10/15)

Court Decision:
Chehalis Tribe v. Thurston County (April 2, 2010)

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