Osage Nation State Of Emergency Declared Amid Budget Shortfall
- mike33692
- 29 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Osage Nation State Of Emergency Declared Amid Budget Shortfall
The Osage Nation State of Emergency has been declared by Principal Chief Joe Tillman following projected revenue shortfalls and mounting budget constraints that tribal leaders say threaten the nation's long-term financial stability.
The emergency declaration immediately closes the Daposka Ahnkodapi School in Pawhuska and schedules the closure of the Osage Nation Visitor Center on August 8 and Harvest Land Farm on December 31. Tribal leaders say the difficult decisions are expected to save approximately $5 million while protecting essential government services and direct assistance for Osage citizens.
Osage Nation State Of Emergency Follows Budget Crisis
According to the Osage Nation, executive branch departments submitted nearly $98 million in funding requests for the current fiscal year, despite receiving only $60 million in appropriations from the Osage Nation Congress earlier this year.
Principal Chief Joe Tillman said departments were not initially provided spending limits when preparing their budgets, resulting in requests that far exceeded available funding.
In announcing the Osage Nation State of Emergency, Tillman said leadership worked with department heads to reduce spending but ultimately determined that facility closures were necessary to preserve essential government functions.
The tribe also cited an estimated $11 million annual structural funding gap tied to programs originally created with temporary CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Officials said those federal pandemic dollars are no longer available to sustain ongoing operations. More information about tribal government services is available through the Osage Nation.
Daposka Ahnkodapi School Among Facilities Closing
The most immediate impact of the Osage Nation State of Emergency is the closure of Daposka Ahnkodapi, which serves Osage children from six weeks old through eighth grade.
According to tribal officials, children from infancy through pre-kindergarten will automatically transition to the Wahzhazhe Early Learning Academy, with teachers serving those age groups retained.
Families with older students, however, must now quickly enroll their children in other schools before classes begin in the coming weeks.
In a letter to parents, Chief Tillman said operating the school cost more than $3 million annually, averaging roughly $32,000 per student. He also cited a recent security assessment identifying substantial facility improvements needed to meet current safety standards.
The Osage Nation Visitor Center will close on August 8, while Harvest Land Farm, another project supported through pandemic relief funding, is scheduled to close on December 31.
Information about tribal government meetings and congressional actions is available through the Osage Nation Congress.
Savings Will Be Redirected To Essential Services
Under the emergency plan, employees affected by the closures will receive compensation through their respective closure dates, payment for accrued leave, two weeks of severance pay and continued health insurance benefits.
Tribal leaders say the approximately $5 million in savings will be reinvested into core government operations, including funding for the Osage Nation Assisted Living Facility, the tribal funeral home and other direct services for Osage citizens.
The announcement surprised some members of the Osage Nation Congress, with several lawmakers publicly questioning whether the tribe's financial condition required such sweeping reductions ahead of a special congressional session.
The Osage Nation State of Emergency represents one of the most significant financial actions taken by tribal leadership in recent years. As lawmakers review the emergency declaration and upcoming budget decisions, tribal officials say their priority remains preserving essential services while positioning the Osage Nation for long-term financial stability. Additional information about tribal programs and services is available through the Osage News.