Recently the Mohegan Tribal Council said they were taking a total eight (8%) percent cut on their pays, and that it took several days for legal to figure out if they could do it constitutionally. When I was in business, we used to say, you can make the figures be anything you want them to be. This in my opinion, is one such case.
According the Mohegan Tribal Governments own words, they took a roll back in pay to what they made at the end of September, 2008 (the end of 2008 fiscal year). They said it was an 2.8% increase. If you add 5.2% to the 2.8% that makes a total of 8%.
Now let's see how that really works. Chairman "Two Dogs" Bozsum is believed to be making $308,000.00 plus benefits at the end of September, 2008. Add his 2.8% it comes to $316,624.00. Take away the 2.8%, you are back to the $308,000.00. Now take 5.2% off the $308,000.00 and you end up taking $16, 160.00 off his pay. That ends up being $291,984.00. A true 8% off $308,000 is $283,360.00. A difference between the way the Tribal Council figured it and what it actually should be is $8,624.00.
The Mohegan Sun Casino Executives took a 10% cut. The Mohegan Tribal Council, the way I figure it only took 5.2% In my opinion, if the Tribal Council took a real 10% pay cut Chairman Bruce "Two Dogs" Bozsum pay would end up being $277,200.00. A savings, I figure of about $13,000.00 more. Now, save about $12,000 for each councilor, times nine (9 the number of Tribal Councilors and it comes to $108,000.00. I figure that could save four or five jobs.
Here, in my opinion is another case of the Tribal Council not doing the right thing for the Tribe. It's another smoke and mirror show. It's an illusion.
How about the Council of Elders, are they going to step up from their 2.8% roll back or are they going to take a real 8% or 10% pay cut? So far I haven't heard.
One tribal member said, that he felt that both the Tribal Council members and the Council of Elders members shouldn't get a per caps while they are in office. I don't know but maybe it should be considered. Some how I don't think it is legal, but it is an interesting idea.
Since when does it take at least five (5) days to read the Mohegan Constitution and figure out if the Tribal Council could take a pay cut? Could it be the Tribal Council was trying to figure out, how to get back to their original amounts, without going through cost of living increases like everyone else in the government, when the economy improves?
Only on the Mohegan Reservation it seems that 5.2% equals 8.0%. Maybe the Tribal Council should step up and do 10% like the Executives of the Mohegan Sun Casino. Could it be another of the Tribal Council's and Council of Elders not willing to step up and do the right thing? What do you think?
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4 comments:
All I Know is this: As A 'Legally Disabled Tribal Member... I live on about $30000. a year... and if they take away one more penny from me... that bathroom over at Shantok looks like a nice place to keep house..." I am Just saying.
If that happens then you need to take a closer look at who your leader's are and maybe make new decisions, because a disabled member in 2009 should not be suffering at all!! Isn't it bad enough that you are disabled and have to worry about finances is just unfair.
That Shantok bathroom was yet another blunder! That 6 stall stone palace cost over $600,000! I could have built 3 houses for that money -- each with 3 bathrooms! Start a fire (in a safe fire pit of course -- I am not promoting arson here!) -- and move on in!
As the authority is publicly financed, it is required to publicly report executive compensation in it's annual 10-K filings to the SEC.
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1005276/000119312508261100/d10k.htm#tx48644_17
This is the most recent annual report, and contains the executive compensation of the top 5 executives of the authority, as well as that of the entire tribal council. Pages 86-103 contain all of the information on compensation, with easy to read graphs and everything!!!
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