1983-09-01 Char-Koosta News

              PABLO, MONTANA 59855 ISSN: 0528-8592
The Tribes' FY 84 budget: Act two
Budget approved;
cuts volunteered for last-minute
revenue sharing item
Amid the traditional wrangling - "Do you folks really need a new typewriter... four new rigs ... a cost-of-living increase?"— the Tribal Council on August 30 approved spending $5,062,709 during FY84: $4,797,709 in Tribal dollars and $265,000 in revenue sharing money. FY84 covers October 1, 1983 to September 30, 1984.
Before thorough study of the "hard Tribal bucks" portion of the budget, the Council witnessed two program managers volunteer to reduce their revenue sharing requests to accomodate a last-minute request.
Representatives from Pablo's volunteer fire department asked for $15,000 to help finance the purchase of a new pumper truck. Joe McDonald, SKC, offered to cut his request of $70,000 for new classrooms by $6,000, while ANA's Bea Noble said she'd reduce her $29,000 request for salaries for the Elderly Indian Program cooks by $3,000.
Added to the $6,000 reduction in the price of the Elmo pow wow grounds' restroom and shower facilities, $15,000 was "found" to help the PVFD towards the $25,000 needed for a down payment on a more efficient fire truck. Ronan's fire department, of which Pablo's is a satellite,had already allocated the remaining $10,000. Pablo needs the extra fire protection, in part, to handle the small town's growing population, most of it Tribal, the firemen explained.
Back to 'hard Tribal bucks'
The $4.8 million is only part of perhaps $20 million brought onto the Reservation each year through the Tribes' existence, according to Tribal officials. It includes funding for resource management, Tribal operations, community services, and capital programs.
Among the cuts for FY 84 are four Tribal projects, including the elimination of money to care for the ill-fated "free" buffalo herd, itself eliminated several months ago. Increases include a number of salary raises due to the Personnel Board reclassifying several positions, and a large hike in the health insurance premium paid for each employee.
A major change is the establishing of Char-Koosta, the print shop, as an income-producing enterprise, rather than
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NEWSPAPER OF THE SALISH, PEND cTOREILLE
AND KOOTENAI TRIBES OF THE FLATHEAD INDIAN RESERVATION, WESTERN MONTANA
SEPTEMBER 1, 1983 VOLUME 12 NUMBER 8 THE MONTH OF THE CHOKECHERRY
Constitution on agenda
Proposed amendments to the Tribes' constitution will be discussed at length during the September 6 regular Council meeting in Pablo. Approved changes will go before Tribal voters in December.
The meeting will begin at 9 am. in the Council Chambers.
Reprieve for GA
The Tribes received word from Pat Williams on August 15, that unobligated funds had been found in Washington, D.C., for all General Assistance programs. On August 23, official word was received from Portland to re-open the program and to start accepting applications again. The General Assistance Department will be accepting applications for September immediately.
Hot Springs road closure announced
Due to logging activity--specifically, logs decked in the road -Forestry announces a three-week road closure in the Hot Springs area
Effective August 23, Reservation divide road #HS-1000 between the intersections of the Hot Springs ski road and McGinnis Creek Road (4 air miles northwest of Hot Springs) will be closed to all traffic.
Address any questions to the BIA's forestry branch at 676-4700.
Char-Koosta News, was named for Chief Charlo, last chief of the Salish, and Chief Koostatah, chief of the Kootenai