Tribal Council approves 2025 spending plan

By Danielle Harrison and Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff

Tribal Council held its final meeting of 2024 on Tuesday, Dec. 31,  by approving the 2025 budget.

The meeting was held on Tuesday instead of Wednesday, Jan. 1, due to the New Year’s Day holiday.

The Tribal spending plan included a 10.7 % increase in spending from the 2024 budget.

The 2025 draft budget was mailed to Tribal members in early November in the Tilixam Wawa and Tribal Finance Officer Chris Leno briefed the membership on its specifics in executive session during the November General Council meeting.

Adult Tribal members had until Wednesday, Dec. 4, to comment on the draft spending plan.

“On behalf of staff, I want to thank council and the administration for your generosity throughout the year towards our staff, and in particular, the holiday times with the holiday gifts and ultimate generosity in that you always show a commitment to staff in terms of time off, benefits and programs, and continuing to provide a great place for people to work,” Leno said.   

In other action, Tribal Council:

• Approved appointing Reyn Leno to the Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc. Board of Directors by a 5-4 vote, with Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy breaking the tie in favor. Vice Chair Chris Mercier and council members Denise Harvey, Brenda Tuomi and Kathleen George voted in opposition. Secretary Jon A. George, Tonya Gleason-Shepek, Lisa Leno and Matthew Haller voted in favor. The council also unanimously approved reappointing Drew Mahalic to the board. Both he and Leno have terms set to expire on Sept. 30, 2027;
• And approved the agenda for the Sunday, Jan. 5, General Council meeting, which will feature a program report on the Health & Wellness Center and start at 11 a.m. in Tribal Council Chambers and on Zoom.

To watch the entire meeting, visit the Tribal government’s website at www.grandronde.org and click on the Videos tab.