Cherokee Nation council approves $3.65 billion FY2026 comprehensive budget

Cherokee Nation Tribal Council on July 31 approved the administration's fiscal year 2026 comprehensive budget after a daylong hearing that included a high-level presentation from Treasurer Janice Taylor and questions from councilors. The combined operating and capital budget totals $3,650,000,000 and was approved by acclamation.

The budget presentation and discussion centered on revenue assumptions, capital projects and staffing. "I'm Janice Taylor, the treasurer here at Cherokee Nation, and it really is an honor to stand before you today and present the proposed budget for Cherokee Nation for fiscal year 26," Taylor told the council as she opened her overview. She said the proposed plan is balanced: total budgeted revenues match planned uses, producing a net change in position of zero.

Taylor outlined the budget's major figures and drivers. The FY2026 operating budget is $2,800,000,000 and the capital budget is $804,200,000 for a combined $3,650,000,000. Federal funding is the largest revenue source, accounting for roughly 65% of the budget. Grants and compact revenue are projected to decline by about $87,700,000, a result Taylor attributed to grant reductions and the spend-down of one-time pandemic funding such as ARPA. The budget assumes an indirect cost rate increase from 14.7% in FY25 to 15.9% in FY26 and a fringe rate increase from 29.66% to 30.26%.

Capital priorities named in the presentation include investments in health centers (Taylor placed the health centers line at about $565,000,000, including work at Claremore Indian Hospital), roads and bridges across the reservation, child development and early learning centers, wellness centers, property acquisitions and a tribal courts and justice center funded from a settlement. Taylor said departments provided detailed program narratives and outcome metrics during budget preparation and that budgets were reviewed for grant opportunities and one-time funding dependencies.

On staffing, Taylor told councilors the budget includes 7,349 budgeted full-time-equivalent positions as of July 31, an approximate 40% increase in staffing since 2022 (up from 5,247). She said about 80% of the workforce is grant-funded and noted 847 vacancies at the time the budget was compiled. The FY2026 request includes 834 new FTE requests, with health services comprising the largest share.

Council discussion touched on several program-level and process issues, including the ARPA spend-down (Financial Resources staff flagged a projected $320,000,000 decrease in ARPA state and local fiscal recovery funds as those funds must be expended in 2026), revenue timing for certain federal grants (some grant awards carry across fiscal years), and whether specific capital or operational items would require later budget modifications. The council also discussed a recent external audit context: a councilor noted the state auditor's report on Oklahoma CARES funds and Treasurer Taylor reminded the body that an internal review had found no misspent CARES funds for Cherokee Nation.

Councilors raised a few operational items for future follow-up: the housing authority reported lower delinquency trends after launching online payment and clarified why some payment methods carry processing fees; the marshal service described plans to expand EMS capacity in Hulbert using ARPA funds and to rebid construction plans for a two-ambulance facility; and tribal council members requested that several council-related budget items (special projects, community meeting support and communications/PR capacity) be considered at a September executive finance meeting before any budget modifications are filed.

After discussion, a councilor moved to approve the FY2026 budget. The motion carried by acclamation. The council then moved to adjourn.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: "Motion that we approve the FY 2026 budget." Mover/second: not specified in the record. Outcome: approved by acclamation. - Motion: "Motion to adjourn." Mover/second: not specified in the record. Outcome: approved.

The council's approval establishes the FY2026 appropriations but several items discussed — including proposed budget modifications for council special projects, community assistance, and PR/staffing changes — were set aside for further review at the September executive finance session. Departments and subject-matter staff will remain available to answer line-item questions and to support any subsequent budget mods or reporting requirements.