At a recent executive meeting, a Leelanau County Commissioner raised concerns about 2% funding allocations from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB).
District No. 3 commissioner Will Bunek said too much of the 2% allocation funding is going to non-profits when the funding should be used for government entities including Suttons-Bay Bingham Fire Department and Suttons Bay Public Schools, to name a few.
“The school, fire department are being shorted for the benefit provided,” Bunek said.
Bunek continued, saying he’s not against non-profits receiving funding through 2% allocation, but would like to see more local government costs reimbursed through GTB 2% distributions.
The GTB did not respond to request for comment.
Bunek recently questioned the constitutionality of practice in February, which has been in place for many years. Commissioners voted unanimously last month though to accept a $59,545 award to the county for the purchase of new consoles for the county dispatch center.
Despite the disagreement with 2% funding, the board allowed Inland Seas and Home Sweet Home non-profits to apply, but shot down a request for funding of a self defense class hosted by Suttons Bay Public Schools in a 3-3 vote.
Bunek and District No. 4 commissioner Ty Wessell agreed on not approving the self defense class, citing an education need. But Wessell does believe GTB is dispersing the funding fairly.
“I believe (and our county attorney agrees) that local units of governments, including Leelanau County, may use 2% funds to contract with services from local non-profits that serve our residents,” Wessel said. “The tribe has sole authority to decide which applications they approve and I understand that the tribe’s commitment is to have a positive impact on the community by the decisions of which grants to fund. When the county receives a 2% allocation for one of the applications submitted by the non-profit, the county develops a contract of services with that non-profit to ensure services are delivered. Clearly, the 2% program is a way for the GTB, non-profits, and the local units of government to work together to support community needs.”
In January, the GTB announced its distribution of approximately $814,480.71 of gaming revenue to local units of government as part of its 2% allocation process for the second half of 2024. About $259,938 of those funds will go to agencies and programs in Leelanau County.
Since the 2% allocation began in 1994, the GTB has allocated $47,781,616.50 to local area organizations in Leelanau, Grand Traverse, and surrounding counties in the region. The tribal council voted to determine which organizations would receive allocations for this 2% cycle, with 39 of the 73 applicants being awarded. GTB will make its final decision regarding the first-half of 2025 2% allocation in July.
The Suttons Bay-Bingham Fire and Rescue Authority received the largest amount of funding of Leelanau organizations totaling $66,404.38 to purchase a LifePack 35 system that can monitor a patient’s cardiac rhythm and has the ability to defibrillate, cardiovert, and pace a patient’s adverse heart rhythm.
The Leelanau Board of Commissioners received grant funding for several projects/initiatives including $59,545.19 for the Emergency Services Department to purchase four new 911 dispatch consoles, new paneling for consoles, and new carpet for the dispatch center to allow for more efficient 911 center operations.
A total of $57,800 was also awarded to the board to support Leelanau Christian Neighbors food pantry, as well as $44,712.50 for a “government to government agreement” prisoner housing contract. In addition, the county was awarded $12,343.16 to support the VFW Little Finger Post #7731 in repairing the post’s 80-year-old building’s main floor and making different areas handicap accessible.
Other local organizations that received 2% funds include the Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library, which was awarded $14,000 to support the nonprofit PoWeR! Books Bags with its effort of providing bags with literacy materials and books to children at the Benodjenh Center, Suttons Bay Elementary, and Leelanau Montessori schools. Empire Township received $5,133 to purchase a SCAG 72 inch 40 HP turf tiger Z-Turn mower to be used for the Empire Airport as having the grass mowed to specific lengths is a necessity for flight safety.
