Contributions to Cities, Towns, and Counties

12% of a Tribe’s total annual contribution is distributed by the Tribe to the cities, towns and counties of the Tribe’s choosing…for government services that benefit the general public, including public safety, mitigation of impacts of gaming, and promotion of commerce and economic development.

Arizona Tribes have contributed $115.8 million since FY2004, giving $11.1 million in FY2014 to cities, towns, and counties. Recent contributions include:

• A Navajo Nation contribution of more than $25,000 to Coconino County in 2013 and ongoing contributions since then.
• A 2015 contribution of more than $3,000 from the Colorado River Indian Tribes to the Parker Area Alliance for Community Empowerment in La Paz County.

• Two 2014 grants of more than $13,000 each from the Cocopah Indian Tribe in Yuma County: one to the City of Somerton for its Senior Center and youth programs and the other to the City of Yuma to be split between the Community Food Bank and Crossroads Mission, an emergency housing shelter.
• A Pascua Yaqui contribution of $74,000 to the City of Tempe in Maricopa County for its computer crimes forensics unit in 2014.
• A $50,000 contribution from the Tohono O’odham Nation to the City of Tucson Fire Department in Pima County to distribute 2,000 child car seats.
• A 2014 Tonto Apache Tribe donation of more than $24,000 to the towns of Payson and Star Valley in Gila County.

Tribes also make donations beyond the requirements of the compacts. For example, in 2013 the Ak-Chin Tribal Council pledged $7.4 million to the City of Maricopa to help cover the operating costs Copper Sky Recreational Complex. The Maricopa Mayor, Christian Price, observed, “This is not the 12 percent gaming money required by the [compact]; this is [Ak-Chin’s] own personal investment…in the City of Maricopa”.