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Council approves county services agreement with Samish Indian Nation for Lopez properties
Summary
San Juan County approved a services agreement with the Samish Indian Nation allowing the tribe to pay an in‑lieu amount for law-enforcement and other county services for two Lopez Island properties that will be held in trust.
The San Juan County Council voted Jan. 20 to approve a county services agreement with the Samish Indian Nation covering two properties on Lopez Island.
County Manager Jessica Hudson summarized the draft agreement, which formalizes a framework for the tribe to pay an in‑lieu amount to the county for continued county services (including law enforcement) after the properties are held in trust and therefore exempt from property taxes. "Basically, what it is doing is saying that although they do not have to pay taxes because the properties are now held in trust, they will pay an equivalent-ish amount to the county on April 30 of each year, based on the valuation of the property and our current tax rates in return for continued services," Hudson said.
Hudson said the sheriff's office and assessor had been consulted; the sheriff's office is comfortable being a signatory on the agreement and the assessor had no major concerns. The council moved, seconded and approved the agreement.
Council members expressed general support, viewing the agreement as a practical way to address service funding while recognizing tribal sovereignty.
Next steps: staff will route the executed agreement to tribal counsel and the sheriff for signatures and implement the annual payment schedule once final valuations are set.
