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Govt. Shutdown Causes Funding Freeze At LDF Tribal Operations

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Due to the recent federal government shutdown, the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians’ Tribal Council has been working diligently to protect and maintain programs funded by the federal government that serve Tribal membership.

The  shutdown began on December 22, 2018. Some of the federal funds received by the Tribe have been committed through the 1837, 1842 and 1854 land cession treaties.

Currently the Tribe manages and oversees approximately 250 grants for program support and services. As the federal government shutdown continues, Tribal administration will meet regularly with accounting staff to evaluate and communicate updates on the Tribe’s financial position. Accounting staff will continue to monitor reports daily from federal programs on the status of grant funding. At this point, not all grants have been affected by the shutdown. The Tribe has been successful in completing all the drawdowns of funds for all the federals programs for fiscal year 2018.

Fiscal Year 2019 funding is limited for drawdowns for specific affected programs. Administration and affected program staff continue to review grant-funded programs, and are taking steps to reduce the impact on program services.

In a January 3, 2019 memo, administration notified all employees that capital expenditures are frozen until further notice. Direction was also given to be cautious and frugal of their spending. Be advised that if this shutdown continues, additional steps and or further measures may be taken to curtail and limit program spending.

While hopeful the shutdown will end soon, administration continues to meet with many of the affected program staff and Tribal business entities, including the Casino, the LDF Business Development Corporation and the Housing Authority. “The Council takes our financial responsibilities very seriously, and we are exploring options as the shutdown continues. We want to avoid disruption in services wherever possible, and we are working carefully to determine the impact to our general fund and to avoid layoffs,” said President Joseph Wildcat, Sr.

Administration and the Tribal Council will continue to update Tribal Members, the community and Program staff as more information becomes available.

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