General Council briefed on draft 2016 budget

By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor

General Council was briefed on the draft 2016 budget by Finance Officer Chris Leno during the Sunday, Nov. 1, meeting held in the Tribal Community Center.

After Leno’s 26-minute presentation, which reviewed material included in the November Tilixam Wawa sent to the Tribal membership, Tribal members asked five questions.

Leno said that adult Tribal members have until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, to comment on the draft budget. Comments need to either be written or e-mailed to Leno at chris.leno@grandronde.org or sent to the main Tribal address at 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347, care of the Finance Officer.

Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno said in response to a question from former Tribal Council member Toby McClary that Tribal Council is about two-thirds of the way through the budget process, which will conclude in late December with adoption of the 2016 budget.

In other action, it was announced that the next General Council meeting will start at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, to accommodate the annual Tribal Council Christmas Party.

In addition, Tribal Council meetings held November through February will start at 4 p.m. due to potentially hazardous winter weather and earlier darkness.

Culture Committee Chair Betty Bly made a brief presentation, reporting that the committee is currently working on preparations for the 32nd Restoration Celebration set for Saturday, Nov. 21, in the Tribal gym.

Tribal Council member Jon A. George joined Tribal members Brian Krehbiel, Kathy Cole, Chelsea Clark, Kailiyah Krehbiel and Red Sky Clawson, as well as Eric Bernando, in performing the cultural drumming and singing to open the meeting.

Promise Rimer, Regina Wheeler and Russell Wilkinson won the $50 door prizes and Tribal Elder Marcella Selwyn won the $100 door prize. Items donated by George and Tribal Council member Brenda Tuomi also were raffled off.

A video of the meeting, in its entirety, can viewed on the Tribal website, www.grandronde.org, by clicking on the News tab and then Video.