Seekseequa District Budget Meeting on 2027 CTWS Budget
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The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS) have unveiled their proposed 2027 General Fund Tribal Budget, projecting total revenues of $28,471,708 for the upcoming calendar year.
At the Seekseequa District budget meeting, CTWS Chief Operating Officer Caroline Cruz and Secretary-Treasurer/CEO Edward Henderson presented the draft figures to tribal membership. The proposed 2027 revenue marks a net increase of $976,785 over the 2026 approved budget of $27,494,923.
Cruz emphasized that although overall tribal revenue is projected to rise, department expenditures are facing upward pressure driven by inflation, higher self-insurance expenses affecting payroll, and rising commercial insurance premiums. To help recruit and retain qualified personnel, the Tribes are finalizing a comprehensive wage study set for completion by year-end 2026. Cruz also clarified that the 2027 budget proposal contains no capital project requests, despite outstanding community needs in facilities, water, sewer, and fleet maintenance.
Detailing the income streams, Henderson outlined significant revenue shifts across core tribal resources and commercial enterprises. Timber operations anticipate a downturn, with reservation timber trust revenue declining by $911,868 to $1,762,550, bringing total net timber revenues to $1,639,172.
Conversely, interest earnings are projected to rise significantly. Total interest revenue is forecast at $1,670,000—an increase of $1,150,000—driven largely by $900,000 in interest on Indian Health Service and BIA P.L. 93-638 contract funds. Enterprise revenues remain anchored by Warm Springs Power and Water, which will supply a steady $12,000,000. While Indian Head Casino dividends will drop by $300,000 to $1,500,000, that dip is offset by a matching $300,000 preferred dividend. Additional enterprise income includes $414,451 from Kah-Nee-Ta preferred dividends, $150,000 from Warm Springs Construction Ventures, and $400,000 from Warm Springs Composite Products.
On the tax front, cannabis enterprise taxes are projected to drop by $256,675 to $303,688. Henderson noted that $100,000 previously designated as tax transfers back to the cannabis enterprise was reallocated toward land purchases to help balance the overall budget. Furthermore, the Tribes factored in $583,302 from prior-year department savings and rollovers to close the budget gap, cautioning department managers against end-of-year spending sprees.
On the expenditure side, tribal operating costs are budgeted at $22,821,936 for 2027, an increase of $3,973,201 over 2026. The largest departmental requests include Public Safety at $4,827,525, Public Utilities at $4,453,307, Finance at $3,276,978, and General Administration at $2,623,000.
The proposed budget is currently making the rounds through district meetings across the reservation. Following an all-district General Council review, the final 2027 budget will head to Tribal Council for formal adoption before the end of November.
