NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WBEN) - Seneca Nation was ordered to pay $255 million to New York State as a result of Wednesday's decision by an arbitration panel over casino revenues.
Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said the city has no reason to believe that the Seneca's won't make the payment.
"We'll take it from there," Dyster said while noting Seneca Nation is acting in good faith in working with the state.
Seneca Nation in March of 2017 announced they are concluding their payments to New York State because of language stated in the compact between Seneca Nation and New York State. The City of Niagara Falls has lost millions in money that it usually receives from Seneca Nation as a result of the dispute over casino funds. In January, an arbitration panel sided with New York in its bid for more than $100 million a year in proceeds from the three casinos in the region: Niagara Falls, Salamanca, and Buffalo.
The Senecas shared more than $1 billion before stopping payments.
Dyster expects the money to come soon and said they'll have to make decisions about things like the city's paving program.
"What we're interested in is getting all this behind us so we can work on all the things that the State of New York, City of Niagara FAlls, and Seneca Nation of Indians are interested in working in together," he said. "There's a major capital construction project ongoing that is creating a new entrance for the casino...transportation improvements...policing agreement...and a variety of other things."
