AKWESASNE—(Ohiaríha/June 10, 2025) The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Compliance Division is announcing an increase in tobacco stamp fees. Since the current level was set in 2018 (TCR 2018-37), and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, decreased gaming revenues, and uncertainty surrounding federal funding, tobacco stamp fees were held constant. It is now necessary, however, to increase fees to help maintain essential services for the community.
Several tribal programs that support infrastructure and vital services for the community receive funding through the Tribal General Fund (TGF), which is supported by licensing and regulatory fees. The list below illustrates the various TGF programs:
- Road and Highways Maintenance;
- Water and Waste Water Services;
- Community Support Programming: Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club, Sewakwatho Drop-in Recovery Center, Akwesasne Cultural Center, Haundenosaunee Everlasting Academy of Learning (HEAL) Lodge, Holistic Life Foundation-Akwesasne, Seven Dancers Coalition, Heating Assistance Program, Winter Jacket Programs, Akwesasne Streetlight Safety Program Project, Cemetery Upkeep, Elders Benefit top-up;
- Office of the Aging (Senior’s Center) elders’ services;
- Social Services;
- Family Advocate (helping to keep community members from falling through the cracks);
- Environment Division; • Education Division: higher education and training, scholarships, etc.;
- Community Policing;
- Parks and Recreation (Generations Park, walking trails, Amphitheater, and upcoming boat launch);
- Compliance programing: Animal Control, Elders Benefit;
- Grant matches required by funding agencies;
- Local Youth Sprots and sponsorship and much more!
Chief Beverly Cook Chief Michael Conners Chief Donald Thompson, Jr. Sub-Chief Derrick King Sub-Chief Agnes Jacobs Sub-Chief Benjamin Herne On May 22nd, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council adopted Tribal Council Resolution 2025- 19, increasing its tobacco fees as follows: • $5.00 per carton for "local" compliant Tribal manufacturers; • $6.00 per carton for other Native American manufacturer products; • $8.00 per carton for Tier I Major Cigarettes from the NYS portal; and • $4.00 per bag for all "Rollies." A portion of the fees above ($0.87 per unit) is allocated to the Akwesasne Convenience Store Association (ACSA) businesses, except for fees for “Rollies” where all fees are allocated to TGF. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe remains committed to supporting tribally-licensed businesses while ensuring infrastructure and vital services for the community are well-supported.
For more information on please contact the SRMT Compliance Division at (518) 358-2273.
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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.