Two percent disbursement

Scott Csernyik

11/29/2005 12:00:00 AM

About $4.1 million was allocated to local governments, municipalities and area schools during the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan's semiannual 2 percent disbursement process.

Of that amount officially distributed on Nov. 22 at Tribal Operations, about $2.1 million went to Isabella County, while the city of Mt. Pleasant received $596,000. Mt. Pleasant Public Schools received $960,600.16 for 114 individual projects; Shepherd Public Schools received $243,629; Beal City Public Schools, $70,300 and Chippewa Hills, $21,949.

Since 1994, the Tribe has distributed almost $75 million as part of the 2 percent process. In accordance with its consent agreement with the state, the Tribe distributes 2 percent of its Class III gaming revenues on a semiannual basis.

Other allocations included: Chippewa Township, $24,489.73; Deerfield, Denver, Isabella, Nottawa and Wise townships, $12,000 each; as well as Isabella/Gratiot RESD & Special Education, $14,344.66. A complete breakdown of the individual projects funded will appear in the Jan. 1 edition of the Tribal Observer.

Isabella County's largest single payment was $750,000 for Baseline Road reconstruction. The project includes reconstruction of Baseline Road from Meridian to Lincoln Road. Prior 2 percent funding has helped complete five miles of the popular roadway, leaving remaining possible reconstruction from Meridian to Vandecar roads.

Some of the other project funded for Isabella County included the Isabella Commission on Aging receiving $593,170; the Multi-Jurisdictional Traffic Enforcement Team being allocated $553,000, as well as $496,707 for Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team.