Budget provision benefits Oneida Tribe

GREEN BAY - A provision in the newly passed state budget allows the Oneida Tribe of Indians to bypass local municipalities, like Hobart, and go right to the state to obtain its liquor licenses.

Hobart Village Administrator Elaine Willman said the village was never made aware of the amendment until it was too late. She contends not only could Hobart lose out on a nominal annual licensing fee, but she said, more importantly, the village also loses the ability to compel the tribe to pay fees and taxes.

"Now they can go around (us) and not worry about any obligations to the village," Willman said.

She points to the lengthy fight between the two over the Oneida's purchase of Thornberry Creek Golf Course last year. The village eventually gave the tribe a liquor license for the property but only once more than $500,000 in back fees and taxes were paid.

"I think if they did not need the liquor license, the monies would still be owed," Willman added.

Tribal spokeswoman Bobbi Webster said that's just not the case. "I don't know why the village would suppose the tribe is not going to pay their fees. We've tried to keep our relationship open," Webster said.

Webster said the tribe has no plans as of now to go through the state for its liquor licenses, but she said it might make sense to do so in the future.

"Tribes are sovereign governments and it's more appropriate to have relations state to state rather than with local municipalities," Webster said.

But some are concerned with how narrowly the budget provision was written. It states: "a federally recognized American Indian tribe in this state ... encompassing not less than 60,000 acres nor more than 70,000 acres or any business entity that it wholly owned and operated by such a tribe" can apply for a liquor license through the state.

The Oneidas are the only tribe in the state that meets those criteria.

The tribe has a historical reservation of about 65,000 acres.

State Senators Russ Decker (D-Schofield) and Mark Miller (D-Monona) sponsored the provision. They represent districts far from Northeast Wisconsin. Neither was available for an interview to explain why it was included in the state budget.

"Our issue is with our state elected officials granting little favors," Hobart Village Administrator Elaine Willman said.

"I think we worked with the state legislators, meaning our state legislative affairs, to look for some opportunities," Tribal spokeswoman Bobbi Webster said.

More opportunities for the tribe that could potentially cost local municipalities money.

The provision also affects Green Bay, Ashwaubenon, and Pittsfield -- other municipalities where the Oneidas own properties that have liquor licenses.