Tribe taxes wrong, shameful

Kudos to La Conner resident Dan O’Donnell for his persistent and astute analysis of local and county financial matters, especially regarding taxation (letter, March 9 Weekly News).

The Swinomish taxation of Shelter Bay “improvements” – only the homes, not the land – is an anomaly.

For those who do not know the history or have forgotten, it is the consequence of a lawsuit brought in Thurston County by the Chehalis Tribe over property taxation of Great Wolf Lodge, in which they had a majority interest.

Local courts ruled in favor of the county; the Tribe appealed to the United State...