The Ninth Osage Nation Congress passed the 2025 fiscal year budgets for the three villages set at $677,700 in total for property operations and maintenance costs.
On Sept. 17, the Congress passed bill ONCA 24-72 (sponsored by Congresswoman Jodie Revard, also chair of the Congressional Appropriations Committee), which is the appropriation bill containing the three budgets for the respective Grayhorse, Hominy and Pawhuska village committees. The total appropriation is an overall $13,000 increase from the FY 2024 budget total, which comes as many communities nationwide are experiencing cost increases for goods and services due to inflation.
The respective village committees (also called five-man boards) are responsible for the village properties’ upkeep as the community buildings, chapels and surrounding grounds are used year-round in addition to the three Inlonshka dances held at the arbors. The higher budgets also come as the three villages now have new or recently built larger community buildings to host dinners, parties, dances and other community and cultural events.
Revard, who serves as a Pawhuska District cook, said the Pawhuska village budget increased, noting “these buildings are beautiful and I feel like they require professional cleaning, they require professional repair and maintenance.”
For FY 25, the respective village budgets are set at $145,000 for Grayhorse; $160,500 for Hominy; and $372,200 for Pawhuska. For Pawhuska, this will be the first full fiscal year where the Nation’s income from gaming revenue will be appropriated to fund the village budget. In the past, the Pawhuska Village Committee received proceeds from the Pawhuska Osage Casino lease revenue when it was located within the village perimeter. However, with the new Osage Casino & Hotel now open at a new location and the former casino location closed, monthly lease revenue income has ceased.
“You can see these villages are starting to grow as far as the many folks that we serve, and for events, and I want us to provide them with whatever monies they need to professionally clean their buildings and upkeep and maintain these properties and the equipment within,” Revard said during a Congressional Government Operations Committee meeting where the bill was initially reviewed.
The committee spoke with members of the three village committees on the budgets and past use of tribal funding for village operations. Judy Johnson, from the Grayhorse Village Committee said funding was previously used toward improvements at the chapel.
Alecia Hutchens, of the Hominy Village Committee, said the recent chapel expansion is completed and an order for couches, chairs and tables will be made.
Cherokee Cheshewalla, of the Pawhuska Village Committee, told the Gov Ops Committee the budget amount is the same as last year with the budget paying for operations, including internet for the office and natural gas. She added the professional fees go toward paying for a full-time worker and seasonal workers who help with landscaping ahead of the dances.
Congresswoman Alice Goodfox, who has served as a Hominy District cook, echoed some of Revard’s comments, adding “I’m glad that our elected officials in this branch support our villages, through my time on Congress, we have continued to see an increase and we’re going to continue to see an increase, their (budget) outlays are going to have to change. We have bigger arbors, we have bigger buildings and we have things within those buildings we’ve never had before and two of them (have) dishwashers and so we’re going to have to take care of these things.”
Going forward, Goodfox said she would like to visit more with the village committees to see what their needs are for operations and maintenance.
The bill passed 12-0 and Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear signed the bill into law.
For more information regarding ON Congressional regular or special sessions, filed legislation and Congressional committee meetings, visit the Legislative Branch website at www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/legislative-branch
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