Oregon City Vs. Tribe for Casino Services

AP-OR--Tribe-City Contract,0136

Tribe, city dispute contract for casino services

Eds: APNewsNow.

NORTH BEND, Ore. (AP) - A dispute over a contract for government

services has the potential for a court test involving an Oregon

city and a sovereign tribe.

The Coquille Tribe operates The Mill Casino in North Bend and

pays for city services through lodging revenue, matching the rates

paid by other motel and hotels in an occupancy tax.

But the tribe, after a $40 million expansion, has laid off 7

percent of the casino's workforce, and it is pressing the city for

better contract terms. It has withheld $88,000 in payments this

year. Last year, it paid $440,000.

The city won't say whether it would take the tribe to court,

which could raise the prospect of debate over the tribe's sovereign

status.

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Information from: The Register-Guard,

http://www.registerguard.com