Cigarette sales have never been a big source of revenue for the Native American tribes of the North Olympic Peninsula.
But being able to sign compacts with the state of Washington that allow them to sell tobacco free from the threat of state law enforcement raids and seizures of previously “contraband” tobacco products — not to mention having a little extra state tax money to use for essential tribal services — is a big relief to four of those tribes.
“It’s a nice thing to have, and definitely makes a lot of sense for us,” said John Miller, executive director of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, which will be petitioning the 2005 state Legislature for the right to negotiate its own compact with the state.
“It provides a small amount of what we like to call ‘hard dollar income.’
“It’ll help with our rec programs, and other add-on programs that are not line items in our federal funding sources.”
Only Peninsula signatory
The Jamestown S’Klallam tribe is the only Peninsula tribe of the 17 statewide so far that have signed agreements to collect sales taxes on cigarette sales to nontribal members — and recycle that money into health services, roads, school and other services.
“It is a meaningful new source of income for the tribe,” said W. Ron Allen, Jamestown S’Klallam executive director.
“Our cigarette sales, compared to the Puyallups’, and the Colvilles’ and the Yakamas’, are minuscule. We are a small stop out in the relative boonies.
“But every new revenue source helps us with our social and health services, our education, our housing and our natural resources.”
Elsewhere on the Peninsula, the Quileute tribe of LaPush is one of four Washington tribes eligible to negotiate a compact under current law, and two others — the Lower Elwha Klallam and the Makah — have signaled their interest in being allowed to negotiate such deals.
A bill will be introduced on behalf of the Lower Elwha Klallam and Makah during the 2005 legislative session, said Leslie Cushman, Indian affairs liaison for the state Department of Revenue.
