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Rancho Mirage to end long‑standing public‑safety MOU with Agua Caliente Band; council cites legal changes, plans for budget impact
Summary
The Rancho Mirage City Council voted unanimously to terminate a decades‑old memorandum of understanding with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians that has funded public‑safety support; staff said the phase‑out, effective June 30, 2026, will reduce next year’s public‑safety revenue by about $500,000 and that discussions about offsets are ongoing.
The Rancho Mirage City Council voted 5–0 on Feb. 5 to terminate a longstanding intergovernmental memorandum of understanding with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians that has provided an in‑lieu public‑safety payment tied to casino room nights.
City Manager Isaiah Hagerman told the council the MOU dates to the 2007 annexation of the casino and functioned like a payment in lieu of a transient‑occupancy‑style fee, with the tribe voluntarily collecting and remitting the amount to the city to help fund sheriff and fire/medical services. Hagerman said a recent federal court ruling changed the legal landscape and the tribe approached the…
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