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| The Pawnee Nation Tax Commission has been dissolved. read more below Employees statement of occurance (may take a minute to load or you can read below) Pawnee Business Council Press release |
| A Tax Employees' MySpace Blog about the closing: Monday, August 18, 2008 Pawnee Nation Tax Commission...if ya wanna know. Current mood: catalyzed Alright Everyone... 1 The council voted to "Dissolve" the Tax Commission. 2 We did not resign or walk off the job. We stayed until 5:00PM, no one came over to see us, talk to us, offer us a new job, or even just see if we were even there. 3 Get involved! This is your Council at work! The Tax Commission office (Lily, Linda, and Myself) attended the Pawnee Nation Business Council meeting on August 13, 2008 (a meeting we were not supposed to be aware of). We were contacted by an inside source the night before that the Council was going to 'dissolve' the Pawnee Nation Tax Commission the next morning. We were faxed an agenda that morning at 9AM, for a meeting that was to start at 9AM (we arrived 10 min later to meeting that was well under way.) Our arrival and attendance was met with a visible change in atmosphere. (Remember, we weren't supposed to know what was going on, just sitting in our offices, none the wiser.) The rest of the meeting dragged thereafter. Also in attendance were: George E Howell, Les Hand, Andrea'Tweety' Bowen, John Onlyachief, Donna Wilde, Buddy Lonechief, Pete Moore, Joanne Roberts (the "Camp Cryer" reporter), Attorney John Pariss, Viola Wills, Dawna Hare, Harrison and Nova Fields, Lillie Cummings. Council Member Elizabeth Blackowl was not present. They voted and discussed other items prior to dealing with ours, to which I watched Les Hand, unable to even make a pertinent statement, answer votes, make motions, and seconds with a "here" (umm, only yes or no or abstaining would have been acceptable) as though he were still answering roll call over and over again. Once he did reply "Compete" (are we still at the powwow?) when prompted to make a motion. When getting to the new "organizational chart" (which the tax commission was not listed) they broke for executive session so they could discuss some of the new proposed department heads who they apparently had problems with. After more discussion and voting, they got to the Tax Commission. It was explained by Mr Parris that the Tax Commission would just be a new department under the tribe (why were we not on the chart?) and the tribe (not linda, lily, or myself) would issue tags and take in the taxes all of which would go into the 'general fund', we know what that is right? For the layman-a big pot o money that could be used for whatever they see fit. Unlike the tax commission which, unlike they would want everyone to believe, did not "hoard the money". In fact all funds that were "excess funds" (their term, not mine) after we received the portion for the next years budget, all of which was given to the tribe (each year) and specified through our codes, what percentage was to go to help each of the areas covered such as heath care, roads, etc. General fund: it can go to anything, trips, bonuses, whatever. Mr Parris also only made vague statements in regards to our jobs, saying we would transfer to other departments. Only Vague, never "lily will go here, linda will go here,..." and why not use the same staff? oh right, they can save money! hmmm, they'll be buying the same supplies-no actually all new forms and papers since the "Pawnee Nation Tax Commission" no longer exists, so, maybe staff would save them, pay someone $6,$7 an hour to do the work of three people, yep, that would save ya. might negate the quality of service, but at least it's a bargain. Some good points were made and rumors cleared up: "Why weren't the people notified and surveyed as to such a big decision concerning the people?"-made by H. and N Fields. good point. Which was never addressed, just deflected. " What about the talk of the Tax Commission donating $5000 to the rodeo?" -made by Buddy Lonechief. No we didn't. I heard it was the TDC-could that be our casino money none of us are seeing? Tax used to donate to elders, school fundraisers, native school sport events, when we had our original budget. That budget was cut Considerably, So much so, that we have not even had a basic Cost of Living increase that ALL employees get each year so as not to decrease the services we've offered to our clients (to balance the budget decrease). Votes for the Resolution to Dissolve the Pawnee Nation Tax Commission (i have a copy of if ya need it, let me know;)) went as so: The Yes's: Les Hand, John Onlyachief, Tweety Bowen. The No's: Pete Moore, Donna Wilde, Buddy Lonechief. No Elizabeth. Tie vote: Broken by George Howell who voted yes, to dissolve the tax commission. The end. When asking at the end of the meeting what we were supposed to do, do i go back, was again answered with the vague statement "everything will transfer". We returned to the office and were there until 5:00PM. Only tag customers came in, which I served with no problem. No one else ever came. And as of this day, none of us has been contacted for ANY job. So... why? Money, quite simply. And their lack of it. A Casino that will never get built and has NO financial Backing. Hmm....It doesn't matter that we just lost jobs here, though, this has cost their own tribal members jobs, tribal members they say they are looking after! They are making decisions that will affect ALL of us for years to come. We are going back to antiquated methods. . It's taken years to set up the Tax Commission, TDC, Housing. Check and balances. How can you have that if the decisions go from falling on the input of many to just the input of one man. This is your tribe at work, stay informed! not informed? get informed. Take care people. |
The Councils Press Release about the closing: Reorganization Transfers Tax Office to Pawnee Nation Pawnee, OK (August 20, 2008) – On Wednesday, August 13, the Pawnee Business Council voted to remove the Tax Commission’s oversight of the Tax Office and place the Tax Office under the authority of the Pawnee Nation. This move is part of a capacity-building plan that will strengthen the government’s ability to exercise local control and decision-making over tribal resources, which in turn will benefit citizens of the Pawnee Nation through improved funding of health, education, social service, cultural preservation, and other programs vital to the success and well-being of the Pawnee Nation as a tribal community. While under the authority of the Tax Commission, operations of the Tax Office often failed to reflect the service-oriented goals and objectives set forth by the Pawnee Nation’s elected officials. Furthermore, because revenues generated by the Tax Office were largely inaccessible to the Pawnee Nation, many programs and services for Pawnee tribal members did not receive adequate funding. In order to better serve and meet the needs of Pawnee citizens, the Pawnee Business Council removed the Tax Commission’s oversight of the Tax Office and placed the Tax Office under the authority of the Pawnee Nation. As part of the Pawnee Nation’s newly formed Division of Finance, operations of the Tax Office will now focus on the efficient, effective, and respectful provision of services to Pawnee citizens. Furthermore, revenues of the Tax Office are now subject to oversight by the Pawnee Nation, which will ensure fiscal accountability and responsibility. According to Pawnee Business Council President George Howell, “We don’t want to be irresponsible in the use of these much needed dollars. We want to make sure that funds are going where they are most needed and will make the greatest impact for our people.” |
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