Amador casino plan accepted by arbitrator

JACKSON, CA - In 2004 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a gaming compact with the Buena Vista Me-Wuk which requires the tribe to negotiate an agreement with Amador County to pay for police and fire services, traffic, and water improvements related to the project.  However, when the Amador County supervisors rejected a proposal from the tribe last March the process was forced into binding arbitration.

The Buena Vista Rancheria submitted a similar proposal to the arbiter as they had presented to the county supervisors.  The county submitted nothing to the arbiter.  As a result, the tribe’s proposal was accepted as the final settlement. Under its terms the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians will pay Amador County an initial payment of $16.5 million followed by annual payments of $8 million.

The tribe plans to install up to 950 slot machines and will pay the state 15 percent on slot machines up to $200 million in revenues and 25 percent for over $200 million in revenues.

Return to California Casinos.