White Earth Tribe Offers Casino Partnership With State
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- The chairwoman of the White Earth Tribal community said the tribe would be open to building a casino that would split revenue with the state.
White Earth Tribal chairwoman Erma Vizenor said the real work of selling the tribe's offer for a Twin Cities casino will start next week.
"There is a great, compelling interest to keep the Vikings in Minnesota. And for the last few months, I have been vetting different people, planning a strategy to go ahead and be prepared to offer our proposal," she said.
In a surprise development at a Senate hearing earlier this week, Visenor said the tribe would finance 100 percent of the construction and split profits with the state. That money would cover the state or local share of a new Vikings stadium -- unlike other ideas proposed.
"All require local money to be raised and whether that's in additional tax dollars, or adding on to some taxes ... White Earth presented our proposal. No public subsidy whatsoever," Vizenor said.
She said she plans to meet with key lawmakers next week. And she's chatted with Gov. Mark Dayton, who, she said, took the proposal under serious consideration.
