Summary Sheet- IRS MEMO GAMING GRANT PROPOSALS FEBRUARY 2026.DOC

MEMORANDUM – ISSUE REVIEW SESSION
TO:
Mayor and Council
THROUGH:
Keith Burke, Deputy City Manager
FROM: 
Jonathan Shuffield, Government Relations Director
DATE:
February 12, 2026
SUBJECT:
2026 Tribal Gaming Grant Proposals
AGENDA ITEM: 4B
PURPOSE: 
Staff is seeking Council direction and consideration on internal grant applications from City of Tempe 
departments for tribal gaming (also referred to as 12% revenue sharing) grants submitted based on the 
City’s Strategic Priorities.
RECOMMENDATION OR DIRECTION REQUESTED:
Based on Department gaming grant proposals, staff is recommending that 19 proposed programs (see 
Attachment A) move forward in the internal grant process.
CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
5.10 Achieve revenue forecast actual variance for budget year of +/- 3.0% for local taxes and 
intergovernmental revenue. 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Arizona Revised Statute § 5-601.02 requires participating tribal communities to contribute 12% of their 
annual gaming proceeds to local governments for services that benefit the general public, including 
public safety, mitigation of gaming impacts, and the promotion of commerce and economic 
development. In the spirit of regional cooperation, City of Tempe acts as a pass-through for a portion of 
participating Tribal communities’ statutory contributions to external organizations.
City of Tempe departments have drafted 19 internal applications totaling $1,610,643 (see Attachment 
A). Council has provided direction through the City’s Strategic Priorities and their supporting 
performance measurements. Staff used this Council guidance to produce the list of specific projects 
and programs for consideration for the tribal gaming grant applications. Based on Council direction at 
this meeting, these applications will be completed and sent to Tribal governments. 
External organizations may ask the City to act as a pass-through for gaming grants funding. The 
deadline for applications from external organizations was February 2, 2026.
Upon Council recommendation and direction, resolutions for some tribal gaming grants will be placed 
on the March 5, 2026, Regular Council Meeting to seek approval to forward external and internal grant 
applications to Tribal governments. Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and Gila River Indian 
Community (GRIC) both have alternative processes. The GRIC application requires a signature 
acknowledging submission by an authorized municipality representative at the time of submittal. Tempe 
staff will be signing the acknowledgement of these external organizations’ GRIC applications. Since 
GRIC requires external entities to obtain a resolution in order to move the application forward for 
possible funding, Tempe staff will bring GRIC applications that are recommended for funding by GRIC 
before Tempe City Council at a Regular Council meeting as resolutions for distributions of grant 
funding. 
The anticipated grant submittal deadlines are as follows: 
March 31, 2026: 
Gila River Indian Community

2026 Tribal Gaming Grant Proposals 
2
May 1, 2026: 
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation 
May 30, 2026: 
Tohono O'odham Nation 
June 30, 2026: 
Ak-Chin Indian Community
July 30, 2026:
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community 
September 30, 2026: Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Once the Tribal governments have notified the City of grant awards, likely in fall 2026, Tempe City 
Council will enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with Tribal Communities for disbursement of the 
funds.
FISCAL IMPACT or IMPACT TO CURRENT RESOURCES:
No guarantee of funding. Based on upcoming grant proposals, the City is seeking $1,610,643 in 
revenue sharing grants. In 2025, the City received $300,000 in revenue sharing grants. (See 
Attachment B.) Revenue sharing awards would supplant or enhance funding for existing programs or 
CIP projects. 
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: 2026 Internal Gaming Grant Draft Application Proposals
Attachment B: 2025 Internal Gaming Grant Awards
PowerPoint Presentation