"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Council Approves Tax Rebates for Smoke Shops

TAHLEQUAH, OK — The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council voted to add provisions for tax rebates to some of the Nation’s licensed tobacco retailers, but stopped short of making funds available for loans to smoke shop owners during their regularly scheduled meeting this week in Tahlequah.

The act that was passed will provide a monthly rebate of $1.50 per carton for either 18 months or until the neighboring state increases its tax rate. The council rejected an act that would have set aside $1 million in loans to licensed tobacco retailers who could demonstrate significant hardship because of the tobacco compact with the State of Oklahoma.

“I want to support jobs, but there is no mechanism to recover the loans in this program if the business should default,” said Council Member Cara Cowan-Watts, representing the Will Rogers District. “The first act we passed provided a subsidy and the only way for a shop to get a loan is if they are in distress, so it becomes problematic for me to give twice.”

In addition, the Council amended the tribal budget with a $9.3 million increase, bringing the total budget for the year to more than $566.7 million. The Council also passed several resolutions, including submission of an Indian Housing Plan, donating surplus equipment to Muldrow Public Schools and Northeastern State University, and authorized a planning grant for a hydro-power study.

The next regular meeting of the Council will be held Monday, July 13, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers in Tahlequah.