The Osage Nation’s 2025 fiscal year is underway after the Ninth ON Congress passed the government operations budgets during the Tzi Sho Session in September.
On the 24-day session’s final day, Congress passed bill ONCA 24-73 (sponsored by Congresswoman Jodie Revard, Chair of the Congressional Appropriations Committee), which is the Executive Branch budgetary appropriation bill set at $64.6 million with money largely coming from tribal revenue to fund the various departments, programs, entities, direct assistance services and boards/ commissions throughout FY 2025. Earlier in the session, Congress approved its own Legislative Branch budget at $2.5 million and the Judicial Branch budget at just over $1 million.
Before Congress voted to adjourn the fall session, Speaker Pam Shaw delivered the end-of-session report giving highlights of the session and budgetary business conducted by Congress.
“This session, 30 bills were filed and 21 were passed,” Shaw said. “$25.9 million in non-tribal funds were appropriated, $15.7 million in (Indirect Cost) recoveries and $1.9 million in space cost recoveries were authorized to be spent. $74 million in tribal revenue was appropriated from the General Fund, including $10.3 million to the Health Benefit Fund, $6.85 million to the Higher Education Scholarship Fund and $1.2 million for Crisis Assistance.”
“In addition to the Higher Education Scholarships, Congress provided over $1.8 million for other forms of education assistance, including $1 million for Osage students in career-tech programs,” Shaw said. “$2 million was designated to support Osage restricted landowners with the maintenance of their properties. And for the first time, tribal funds have been appropriated to cover the cost of filing fees for Osages who wish to run for public office at the city, state or federal level.”
“At the close of session, $6.9 million in fiscal year 2025 projected revenue remains available for appropriations,” Shaw said. “From the Retained Revenue Fund, $4.6 million was appropriated for construction of a (new) Legislative (Branch) building. The project is now fully funded and construction can move forward. For the first time since the inception of our government, the Osage Nation Congress will have a building specifically designed for legislative operations.”
“Eight (Congressional) resolutions were filed and seven passed,” Shaw said. “These included approval of the annual plans (of operations) for the Si-Si-A-Pe-Txa (ON Health System) and Osage Casinos (Gaming Enterprise), as well as approval of a 4.25% cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) for all Osage Nation employees.”
Other budget and appropriation-related bills approved during the 2024 Tzi-Sho Session include:
- ONCA 24-68 (sponsored by Congressman John Maker) is “An Act to authorize and appropriate the amount of $4,600,000 to the Capital Asset Fund for a new Legislative Branch building.”
- ONCA 24-70 (Revard) is “An Act to authorize the IDC Departments to expend monies appropriated through the FY2025 appropriations bills.” IDC Departments include those who serve all ON government entities including Human Resources, Accounting, Treasury, Communications, Emergency Management, Information Technology, Strategic Planning, Grants and Tribal Works.
- ONCA 24-71 (Revard) “An Act to provide an appropriation to Tribal Works for fiscal year 2025 in the amount of $1,987,172.”
- ONCA 24-74 (Revard) is “An Act to provide an appropriation in the amount of $841,968 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) restricted revenue to the Department of Natural Resources.”
- ONCA 24-75 (Revard) is “An Act to provide an appropriation to the Executive Branch of the Osage Nation in the amount of $21,682,710 in Tribal and Non-Tribal funds” which largely include grant funding from outside sources, including federal agencies. Those entities receiving Non-Tribal funding include Housing, Food Distribution, Education (Johnson O-Malley), Law Enforcement, Roads, Social Services, Wildland Fire and WIC.
- ONCA 24-87 (sponsored by Congresswoman Alice Goodfox) is “An Act to authorize and appropriate $645,000 to the Real Property Purchase Fund for the purchase of property to house Wildland Fire.”
- ONCA 24-88 (sponsored by Congressman Scott BigHorse) is “An Act to authorize and appropriate the amount of $1,051,869 to Osage, LLC for operating capital.”
- ONCA 24-92 (Revard) is “An Act to authorize and appropriate $500,000 to the Osage Nation Property Improvement Fund.”
- ONCA 24-93 (sponsored by Congresswoman Brandy Lemon) is “An Act to provide an appropriation to Si-Si-A-Pe-Txa for fiscal year 2025 in the amount of $1,661,899.”
- ONCA 24-96 (sponsored by Congressman Eli Potts) is “An Act to amend (Osage law) of the Higher Education Scholarship to increase the amount per credit hour to adjust for tuition increases at higher education institutions.”
- ONCR 24-22 (sponsored by Congressman Billy Keene) is “A Resolution to set the compensation and reimbursement allowance for the Boards and Commissions of the Osage Nation for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.”
- ONCR 24-23 (Revard) is “A Resolution to approve a request for a four and one quarter percent (4.25%) Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Osage Nation Merited Employees for Fiscal Year 2025.”
“I want to thank my colleagues for their hard work and don’t forget to vote!” Shaw said in conclusion. The Nov. 5, 2024 Election includes candidates in the U.S. Presidential race on ballots across the country in addition to other federal, state and local races.
For more U.S. voting information, visit: https://www.usa.gov/how-to-vote
For more information on the Osage Nation Legislative Branch, filed legislative bills/ resolutions, session and committee meetings, visit: https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/legislative-branch