<< Back 5/7/03 Cherokee proposal would mandate balanced budget By Don Hendershot A balanced budget amendment may be the best way to control spending, say some members of the Cherokee Tribal Council. “When the Chief presents the budget, it is balanced. Then sometime during the year it gets totally out of whack,” said Tommye Saunooke, who introduced the amendment. Saunooke said she felt better planning by department heads could prevent the deluge of budgetary amendments the council faces each year after a budget is in place. At its regular May 1 meeting, the Cherokee Tribal Council scheduled a May 13 work session to consider the balanced budget amendment introduced by Saunooke, who represents the Painttown area. It was not clear if council would act on the amendment at the work session or call a special session before they begin working on this year’s budget in June. Teresa McCoy, the council member from Big Cove, supported the legislation and urged council to pass it at the May 1 meeting. “I’m glad this legislation is here. It boils down to responsibility. We could discuss this now, go ahead and pass it and then come back and amend it if we need to,” McCoy said. Albert Crowe, the Birdtown representative, said the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians already has policy in place that mandates a balanced budget. He said Saunooke’s amendment was an attempt to further define and refine that process. Crowe said he was one of the few council members who voted against last year’s $126 million budget. “I felt we could identify savings in that budget, which we could put into tribal savings to be used if the need arises.” He said there appears to be a mindset that if departments don’t spend their budget allotment they will lose it and “that’s not so.” “I would like to see managers save the tribe money. I think the council would be supportive of those who prove they’re good managers,” Crowe said. Some council members were concerned about the impact matching grants had on the tribe’s general fund. Tribal financial officer Michell Hicks cautioned council about lumping all grants together. He said that some grants, properly managed, could actually enhance the general fund if applied to tribal programs. Hicks said that a well-written balanced budget amendment could be good for the tribe. He said that additional guidelines could strengthen the overall budgetary structure and provide better direction for managers and department heads. Principal Chief Leon Jones said he supports the spirit of a balanced budget amendment. “Any time there is legislation to balance the budget, it’s a good idea. It’s the people’s money and the tribe needs to be very careful about how we spend it,” said Jones.