Wisconsin Gambling On Casino Debt To Balance Their Budget

The state of Wisconsin is taking a gamble that, if they are wrong, could leave them searching for $72 million to fill budget gaps.

The $72 million is money that the state believes is owed to them by the Ho-Chung Nation, an Indian tribe that runs several casinos in Wisconsin.

The Tribe, however, says that this is money that they do not owe as it was part of a compact that was signed back in 2004, but after a Superior Court ruling said that the Governor overstepped his authority by signing the compact, the tribe held off paying the $72 million until a new deal could be worked out with the state.

The state sued the tribe in 2005 and the case is now ready to go to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Both sides expect that a decision will come down in the next three to four months, and the state believes that ruling will be that the Tribe must make the payment.

If the ruling comes down in favor of the Tribe, it will be a major problem for the state, as they will then have to come up with that $72 million to balance the budget, a task that seems to be almost impossible.

The money owed was included in the current budget as expected revenue, since the Doyle Administration believe the money will be paid.



2007-11-01