Arnie frees up money for Indian casinos
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a new bill that will send millions of dollars to counties with Indian casinos.
The bill will provide $8.5 million worth of funding to Riverside County and the Coachella Valley from casino-operating Indian tribes, helping non-gambling tribes and boosting services in counties with casinos.
The money will go towards public safety, road improvements and other services, such as extra police and fire services, in areas around casinos, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
The bill was put forward by California Senator Jim Battin and restores $20 million to the Special Distribution Fund. Around 40 per cent of the extra funding has been allocated to Riverside County, which has several tribal casinos.
A $50 million allocation to counties with Indian casinos for the fiscal year from July 1st 2005 was approved by the Legislature, but reduced by the governor.
A new bill that places tougher regulations on reporting how cash from the fund is spent has now been signed and local officials, as well as the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, have welcomed the move.
Governor Schwarzenegger said in a statement: “I look forward to the enhanced reporting requirements under this measure to ensure that the funds are being used to mitigate the impacts of tribal gaming on local governments as contemplated in the 1999 compacts.”