MCK Presents the 2022-2023 Budget - revised version

03/31/2022

REVISED VERSION: Contains reference to Mohawk Online Limited, which was omitted in the original release due to an oversight

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) is pleased to announce that the budget has been finalized for the fiscal year 2022/2023 (April 1, 2022 - March 31, 2023). The Council of Chiefs unanimously approved the MCK operating budget of $63 million dollars. Approximately $2.8 million has been allocated to Tewatohnhi’saktha, the Kahnawà:ke Youth Center, Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center, the Kahnawà:ke Fire Brigade, and the Kahnawà:ke Library.

It is important to note that during the current fiscal year 2021/2022, the MCK incurred a surplus of $8 million, which will be allocated to the Operational Reserve. The most notable factors that contributed to the surplus are: higher than projected revenue from both Electronic Gaming Devices (EGD) and Mohawk Online Limited; vacancy of positions; a decrease in the Social Assistance caseload; and operational savings across the organization.

The new budget is comparable to 2021/2022, which includes a new employability program being funded by Indigenous Services Canada and the purchase of an electric school bus.

The most significant change to revenues is the projected increase of the EGD revenues of $4M. Due to this, the MCK is projecting an operational surplus of $2.54M for 2022/2023.

“For the second year, the pandemic continues to bring about many challenges to our community, and we must remember that we are not yet functioning at the optimum strategic level we’d like to be at,” said Ohén:ton ĺ:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer. “Moving forward, more strategic  direction, investment, and revenue are required to ensure we, as an organization, meet the ever-growing needs of the community. And, hopefully, we will find more stability during the COVID recovery phase.”

“We must keep in mind that there are risks to the MCK’s long-term financial position that must be highlighted,” said Executive Director Onerahtókha Karlie Marquis. “The development of a new strategic plan for the organization and, by extension, the community, will provide the MCK with a comprehensive approach to improving operational functions and addressing these risks and other longstanding issues. Further, work on an updated comprehensive financial plan is needed, in addition to an appropriated fund policy, to ensure revenues are allocated strategically.”

The annual budget is always posted in both local newspapers and on www.kahnawake.com. The audited financial statements, including previous years, are available online at www.kahnawake.com/financials.