Before the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians was allowed to open its Manistee casino 
in 1999, the tribe's backers negotiated agreements with the State of Michigan that requires the tribe to make payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) to local Manistee area governmental agencies via a local three-member Revenue Sharing Board (PILT fund).
Michael J. Malik and a partner managed/funded the tribe's entitlement and pre-development activities and no doubt helped to structure the agreements.
As a result, the tribe must share 2% of all slot machine profits with the local governments in lieu of property and other taxes. This year that amount is reported to be $2,039,000; however, if the tribe were to pay propety and other taxes like other local land/business owners, payments would exceed $2,160,000 -- a short fall (discount) of at least $121,000.
Further, this year local governments have made requests of the PILT fund which exceed $2,820,000; that's $781,000 less than the PILT fund has to award.
The original deal backed by Malik and his partners is a good one for the tribe but short-changes local government.
in 1999, the tribe's backers negotiated agreements with the State of Michigan that requires the tribe to make payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) to local Manistee area governmental agencies via a local three-member Revenue Sharing Board (PILT fund).Michael J. Malik and a partner managed/funded the tribe's entitlement and pre-development activities and no doubt helped to structure the agreements.
As a result, the tribe must share 2% of all slot machine profits with the local governments in lieu of property and other taxes. This year that amount is reported to be $2,039,000; however, if the tribe were to pay propety and other taxes like other local land/business owners, payments would exceed $2,160,000 -- a short fall (discount) of at least $121,000.
Further, this year local governments have made requests of the PILT fund which exceed $2,820,000; that's $781,000 less than the PILT fund has to award.
The original deal backed by Malik and his partners is a good one for the tribe but short-changes local government.
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