That payment is $12 million less than the state thought it was owed, but the deal was praised Wednesday as the end of a long court fight that left lingering questions about the health of the budget .
"With this compact, we can now put these disputes behind us and work together in the future," said Department of Administration Secretary Michael Morgan.
The state will spend $1.5 million from the $60 million to cover attorneys' fees to the firm that worked the case. Going forward the tribe agreed to pay the state 5 percent on winnings - after payout - at its casinos that are below $350 million. Anything above that and payment to the government will be 5.5 percent.
Under the old compact, the tribe would have paid a 6 percent tax on its earnings. Under deals the state has with other tribes operating casinos , the Potawatomi make payments at 6.5 percent of winnings and the Oneida pay 4.5 percent, increasing to 5.5 percent when winnings are above $350 million.
The Ho-Chunk operates casinos offering Las Vegas-style games in Baraboo, Black River Falls, Nekoosa and Tomah. A new casino is opening next month in Wittenberg.
It also runs a bingo parlor in Madison. The new deal can be renegotiated after 25 years.
"While neither the Ho-Chunk Nation nor the state got everything we asked for, we are happy that this matter has come to a long anticipated conclusion," said Ho-Chunk Nation President Wilfrid Cleveland.
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