Akwesasne, NY — The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council issued the following statement today in response to an article that was published in the Plattsburgh Press-Republican on Tuesday, Enniskó:wa/March 30, 2016. The article, titled “State delay roadblock for Franklin Co. bed-tax collection,” references efforts by the County Treasurer to collect a 5 percent fee from overnight guests. It notes that 40 of the more than 100 lodging establishments are identified to collect the fee for Franklin County, which includes businesses located in Akwesasne.
The Franklin County Treasurer intends to send a second letter to non-compliant business prior to sanctions and fines being imposed. Before the letter is sent, the Treasurer is awaiting New York State’s approval on recent changes the County made to their Occupancy Tax Law. Regardless of whether the State approves Franklin County’s changes or not, the Tribal Council stated the following in response to the County’s efforts to collect a bed-tax from tribally registered establishments:
“The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council has made it abundantly clear to Franklin County officials that we will not allow them to collect the County Bed Tax from businesses in the Territory of Akwesasne. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe has adopted its own Room Occupancy Fee Ordinance that already covers establishments located within the Tribe’s jurisdiction. The Tribe believes the County’s efforts to impose taxation or regulation of businesses on tribal land is not only unlawful, it creates an undue economic burden that is harmful to our community’s economic development and enterprises. Further, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s revenue sharing that is provided to Franklin County should be more than adequate as a payment in lieu of such taxes.”
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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk People.