The Gun Lake Tribe’s twice annual local revenue sharing payments have rebounded slightly from the lows of six months ago at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The tribe this week announced that casino revenue sharing for the State of Michigan increased to $4,049,995 and the local revenue sharing board received $2,024,997. GLIMI, an economic development entity, received $1,214,998.
So Dorr, Leighton, Hopkins and Martin townships and the City of Wayland each received $16,403, down from the almost $19,000 paid out just before the Covid-19 crisis arrived. Covid shut down the Gun Lake Casino in 2020 for a spell, but it now is up and running again with new amenities.
Wayland Union Schools was scheduled to get $891,006 in the latest installment, according to Assistant Supt. for Finances and Operations Patricia Velie.
The revenue sharing figures are calculated from electronic gaming revenues reported from October 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. The spring revenue sharing distribution total of $7,289,991 highlights a slight rebound for the casino after a three-month shutdown in spring 2020, followed by operations and capacity limitations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As we begin to return to a new normal, we’re pleased to be able to make a difference in the local community with this distribution,” said Bob Peters, Gun Lake Tribe Chairman. “With the hardships and struggles of the past 16 months, it’s more important than ever that we be good stewards in the community.”
The tribe has now shared more than $102 million with the State of Michigan, which directs the payments to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The MEDC in turn awards grants to businesses to invest in Michigan and create jobs.
The tribe’s state revenue sharing payments depend on the continued preservation of exclusive gaming rights within its competitive market area, as defined by the tribal-state gaming compact, which also includes state-wide expansion of certain lottery games. The market area includes the cities of Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing, as well as the entire counties of Kent, Kalamazoo and Ingham, among others.
The Local Revenue Sharing Board receives and administers the semi-annual payments. The gaming compact prescribes mandatory funding to local municipalities for costs incurred due to the operation of the casino, public safety services and replacement of tax revenue.
The Board established by-laws to govern the distribution process. The local payments are made under terms of the gaming compact independent of gaming exclusivity. Local payments now total nearly $38 million.
Gun Lake Casino opened in February 2011 and now employs more than 1,100 team members. Gun Lake Tribe has now shared $157,337,776 with state and local governments over 21 distributions.
