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TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council voted to use revenue from the sale of car tags to fund road projects within the tribe’s 14-county jurisdictional area during the Council’s September meeting. By committing 20% of tag revenues to road projects, the Cherokee Nation offsets the fears of some state officials that the state would lose significant amounts of money for roads to Cherokee tag sales.

"We’ve spent about $13 million on roads in Oklahoma this year", said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “Under this plan, we will continue to fund the same kinds of projects that we do right now."

The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council voted unanimously to pass the legislation, which should smooth the way for a compact agreement with the State of Oklahoma. A compact would ensure that Cherokee tags would be entered into a nationwide law enforcement database, which would protect tribal members traveling outside of Oklahoma from being ticketed for an invalid tag.

The Cherokee Nation will issue car tags upon the signing of a compact with the state, or by October 29, whichever comes first.

In other action, the Council voted unanimously to appropriate an additional $1 million to tribal road projects and to submit two grant applications to DHHS.

The Council also voted 7-7 on a resolution to submit grants to the Indian Health Service requesting funding for construction on health care facilities in Muskogee, Salina, Nowata and Tahlequah. Hastings Shade, Deputy Principal Chief and President of the Council, cast the deciding vote to approve the proposals.v

"I think there is a need for these facilities", Shade said.

The Council recessed it’s meeting until Monday, September 24. The Council will reconvene in their meeting room at 10:00 on the 24th to address the budget for the next fiscal year.