No Money For Navajo Code Talkers Museum

Effort To Fund Code Talkers Museum Hits Snag!
By Kathy Helms
Dine Bureau
Gallup Independent

WINDOW ROCK – It’s difficult for the Navajo Nation Council to say no to a request for funding anything having to do with Navajo Code Talkers, but when there’s no money, well, bottom line – there’s no money.

Several of these World War II-era warriors, assisted by walkers or supported by the arms of young relatives, made their way to the Council chamber Wednesday afternoon to back Delegate Larry Anderson as he offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2011 comprehensive budget.

Anderson requested a grant of $5 million from the income of the Veterans Trust Fund for the initial phase of construction of the Navajo Code Talkers Museum and Veterans Center. He had attempted the amendment during Tuesday’s opening day of the budget session but later withdrew the motion after confusion arose over the funding source.

“The museum and veterans center will be a multifaceted complex,” Anderson said. “The campus will also provide direct service for veterans that served our country.”

Delegate Lorenzo Bedonie said the matter was discussed at length Wednesday morning at the Chinle Agency caucus. Any set-aside that would be diverted could result in some account going into deficit, he said. “There are risks involved. These are monies that are just projected.”

The projected amount for the Veterans Trust Fund is 4 percent of Fiscal Year 2011 revenue, estimated at $7,885,000.

Delegate Leonard Chee said the amendment also was discussed during his caucus meeting. “One concern was consultation and input from the local veterans organizations and the chapters. That was the question posed, but it was unanswered.”

Another question Chee had was if they were to take the interest income from the trust fund, would that mean that the chapter veterans would not be getting any funding this year or even in years to come.

“What is the interest income this year? Is that enough to cover this $5 million that we are proposing to take from this fund?” he asked. “Lastly, a constituent from Coalmine Mesa came to say that there are other pressing needs of the Navajo veterans, such as housing, such as access to medical and health services.”

Controller Mark Grant responded to Chee’s questions. “The interest income for this year is $743,000. Last year it was $704,000. The year before it was $372,000, so there is insufficient income to cover the $5 million.”

Regarding the second part of the question about the impact of distribution to chapters, Grant said the policy on the Veterans Trust Fund is that 4 percent of the market value is available for appropriation.

“Right now the fund has a balance of $28.8 million. If we take 4 percent of that out, that equals $1.1 million. Out of that amount, 95 percent is available for appropriation for operations and other needs. That is where the chapter distribution will come from.” He said the chapters still would be able to make their distribution but it probably will be slightly less because of the loss of the $5 million.

However, he added that even if the amendment passed, the Controller’s Office would not be able to transfer the $5 million to the Code Talkers because the amendment called for taking the funds out of the income. “There’s only $700,000 (approximately) in income, so there’s not enough income in this fund,” he said.

Anderson’s funding attempt failed, 17-43.

Following the vote, Delegate Young Jeff Tom made a motion to table the comprehensive budget until March 31, 2011. The tabling motion passed 43-25. Council then spent the remainder of the afternoon debating a continuing resolution to keep the tribal government running, also offered by Tom. It eventually passed, 51-24.

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