Indian Gaming Nets County Millions In Cash

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department, District Attorney's Office and other agencies will receive cash infusions totaling nearly $6 million, thanks to Indian gaming mitigation grants accepted Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.

The grant awards are part of an annual distribution made by the state to offset the impacts that casino operations have on communities and public resources, including fire and law enforcement services.

The revenue is collected from the various tribes, then allocated according to a funding award process determined by state and local officials.

In Riverside County, the Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee decides how to divvy up funds, the majority of which go directly to cities.

Of the roughly $14 million received by the county in the most recent state distribution, around $8.5 million is going to municipalities and special districts, according to Executive Office documents. The remainder will be disbursed as follows:

-- $1.5 million to the D.A.'s office;

-- $38,459 to the Department of Mental Health;

-- 1.28 million to the Sheriff's Department;

-- 2.7 million to the Department of Transportation; and

-- $282,959 to the Executive Office.

Supervisor Marion Ashley emphasized that because of new gaming compacts between the state and tribes, future mitigation awards are going to "dry up and disappear."

"We should be working on (obtaining) replacement mitigation (grants) from the tribes," Ashley said. "Some of the cities are really dependent on these grants. The tribes are aware."

Supervisor John Benoit said the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians has pledged its ongoing funding for certain road projects, but noted that the latest distribution "will be the last of the large" ones from the seven tribes together.

Along with Pechanga, the contributing tribes are: the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians; the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians; the Morongo Band of Mission Indians; the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians; the Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians; and the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians.