Bureau of Indian AffairsNational Budget Meeting

March 27-28, 2012

FY 2014Navajo Nation

Budget Priorities

Navajo Nation Priorities

Presented here are the Navajo Nation FY 2014 Budget of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education budget priorities:

1. Public Safety and Justice

2. Human Services

3. Education

4. Natural Resources Management

The Navajo Nation priorities are based upon the need to enhance and sustain the cultural, economic, social and governmental vitality of the Navajo people.

A government-to-government relationship exists between the Navajo Nation and the U.S. government. This relationship is based upon our sacred Treaty of 1868 with the U.S. government, the Snyder Act of 1921, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended and other similar federal laws, which authorize federal appropriations to the Navajo Nation for the benefit of the Navajo people.

Law Enforcement Patrol

Criminal Statistics – FY 2011

Part I – Felony 3,787

Part II – Misdemeanor 204,866

Total 208,653

Annual Arrest: 28,977

Violent Crime: 1,098

Property Crime: 2,689

Vandalism: 4,097

Disorder Conduct: 10,181

Drunkenness: 33,523

DWI: 6,479

Domestic Violence: 4,700

Call for Services: 250,000

Average Response Time (min) 25

Jail Beds 48

Operational Information

Annual Budget: $16,000,000

Actual Budget Need: $22,000,000

SHORTFALL: $6,000,000

280 commissioned officers cover an area of 27,000 square miles

Tribal Courts

The Judicial Branch provides stability in the Navajo Nation government by providing services through:

• Tribal Courts• Peacemaking• Probation & parole

Pursuant to Diné bi beenahaz’áanii, the Judicial Branch has developed a justice system that fully embodies the traditional values and processes of the Navajo People in accordance with Navajo Nation laws, customs, traditions, and applicable federal laws.

FY 2014 P.L. 93-638 BUDGET REQUEST: $3,423,000

Human Services

Social Services

The service area for the Navajo Nation P.L. 93-638 Social Services contract covers the Navajo Nation and border towns.

332 miles

217 miles

The National Child Welfare League of America 15:1.

Navajo 93-638 social workers 35:1

:

:

Human ServicesHousing Improvement Program

Project AccomplishmentsCompleted Projects

Before and After

1.1

m

illion

1.0

m

illion

2.3

m

illion

1.0

m

illion

1.5

m

illion

2.6

m

illion

2011 2010 2009 2009 2008 2007

8 8 10 22 13 44

693

584509 509

684626

No. of Projects

# of Applicants

The Housing Improvement Program is NOT a duplication of HUD NAHASDA.NAHASDA has income requirements – HIP serves the neediest individuals that have no other alternative for housing.HIP typically serves elderly and handicapped individuals needing homes and improvements

Human ServicesWelfare Assistance

• Navajo 93-638 Social Services considers the use of welfare assistance funds as “Family Support Assistance,” with the intent to promote family unity.

• Welfare assistance funds are utilized when no other comparable services are available.

• Welfare assistance funds prevent eligible Navajo families from “falling through the cracks,” when in need of financial assistance and residential care.

• Family reunification and de-institutionalization are goals when purchasing residential care services for children, youth, adults, and elderly.

• All welfare assistance services are offered to eligible Navajos in a context of cultural relevancy.

“Family Support Assistance”

Tribal Scholarships – Higher

Education

FY 2014 Budget Request $34.7 million additional funds

requested;

$12.2 annually is not sufficient to support the increasing number of students that apply for funding every year; and

Cost of education is also consistently rising. Additional funds are needed to support the increasing cost of inflation.

2010 2011 20120

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

17,291 17,001 17,395

5,4365,266

2009-2012 Total Applicants

Total Applicants

Students Funded from Federal Funds

Johnson-O’Malley Program

In fiscal year 2012:

• Conducted 31 public school district fiscal and programmatic monitoring in Ariz., N.M. and Utah;

• Increased student enrollment;• Provided supplemental funding (25 CFR) to

schools to meet unique and specialized opportunities:Tutoring, educational field trips

Increased attendance and academic performance

At-risk counseling Summer school

Promoted native studies including language and culture preservation

Required school items

According to the U.S. Census Bureau almost 70 percent of Navajos speak their tribal language in the home.In contrast, only 30 percent of Native Americans as a whole speak their own tribal language in the home.

Resource Management• Navajo Indian Irrigation Project

o Under P.L. 87-483 the Federal Government promised to fully fund NIIPo The Navajo Nation gave up water rights as a part of this dealo NIIP should be fully funded at $26 m per year to fulfill the federal

government obligation

• Bennett Freeze should be funded under its own line item not as part of Natural Resource Managemento Fund under a separate line item (as was done in 2011) for $1.2 m

Conclusion• The Navajo Nation has an obligation to serve the needs

of it’s citizens just as the federal government has an obligation to fulfill its trust responsibility

• For this reason the Navajo Nation requests:

o Contract Support (TPA) costs need to be fully funded (currently at 85%)

o Tribal Grant Contract Support costs need to be fully funded (currently at 65%)

• Native Nations should be considered in practice MANDATORY/NON DISCRETIONARY FUNDING not subject to reductions under the Deficit Reduction Act.

• Treaty obligations are not discretionary they are legal compacts.