In an eventful week, Graton Rancheria Federated Indians and the Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County, California, have agreed to an extended contract. The fresh pact promises the county an annual sum of $5 million in return for approval of the tribe’s plans to expand its casino and hotel in Rohnert Park. The main objective is to adhere to the original agreement and provide yearly remittances of $14.5 million, mitigating the negative impacts of commercial activities.
Graton Resort and Casino, with its auspicious debut in 2013, secured its spot as the largest casino in the Bay Area. It lured gamblers from far and wide, but nonetheless, the tribe was forced to revamp its county agreement due to contract re-negotiations with the state and plans for an impressive expansion set to break ground later this month. The augmentation plan for Graton Resort and Casino proposes substantial enhancements to existing facilities.
Graton Resort and Casino’s Expansion
The proposed blueprint involves doubling the current casino size. This expansion will integrate up to 3,000 slot machines, establish approximately 200 new restaurants, and inaugurate a large-scale restaurant and rooftop theater. According to the revised agreement, the tribe is obliged to boost its annual payment to the county to roughly $14.5 million, up from the initial $9 million, with adjustments following the Home Market Index.
The Graton Rancheria will earmark these payments to fulfill the state’s requirement of receiving 2% of the tribe’s net income. These funds will be channeled towards various domains, such as public safety, social services, health, housing, greenhouse gas emissions, energy projects, transportation, tourism, and groundwater. All of these sectors bear the impact of the casino’s activities, and this contribution will assist in offsetting those effects.
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