(WBEN) - A federal appeals court has ruled that the Seneca Nation must pay over $400 million to state and local governments as part of an agreement that gave the Seneca Nation exclusive rights to run casinos in Western New York.
In 2019, the Seneca Nation filed federal court action in order to try to move toward a resolution in the disagreement over the compact. The Senecas say the compact did not specify how much the state is to be given after the first 14 years of the deal, which was signed in 2002. The Senecas stopped making payments after paying $1.4 Billion between 2002 and 2017. The compact is set to expire in 2023.
"The court's decision was clear, and after years of delay, multiple appeals, and multiple court losses it is high time the Seneca Nation follows the law and pays what they owe," said Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday.
When contacted by WBEN Monday, Seneca Nation officials released the following brief statement, “The Seneca Nation is reviewing today’s decision and discussing all of our options at this time.”
The Governor had included $450 Million in casino revenue sharing from the Senecas in his proposed State budget, meaning he was counting on that money being paid to the state by March 31 even before the court's decision. State budget director Robert Mujica $435 Million dollars that is owed, over $150 Million of that would be going to local governments including Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
"I believe the money is owed to the state and owed to local governments in Western New York including the city of Buffalo," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. "In my budgets the last few years, I have put that money and that anticipated revenue very conservatively in that City budget because I believe that ultimately the Seneca nation will pay that casino revenue that is owed."