Tribe contributes thousands to county schools from motor vehicle tag sales

The Cherokee Nation contributed $7.6 million to 107 school districts as part of the tribe’s 2025 Public School Appreciation Day held with area educators at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa.

As part of the tribe’s Motor Vehicle Tag legislation and compact with the state, the Cherokee Nation allocates 38% of its annual car tag revenue directly to education.

Last Tuesday, checks were awarded to school districts to use the funds at their discretion.

“We made clear from the beginning that we wouldn’t cave to demands for a one-size-fits all car tag compact with the state that ignored the unique needs of tribes and overrides tribal sovereignty – and that a fair compact was one that benefitted both the Cherokee Nation and all Oklahomans, and that is evident today as we can support our schools and classrooms,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “To date, our Cherokee Nation Motor Vehicle Tag Compact has stood as a model, helping our tribe thrive, exercising our sovereign rights and helping our neighbors achieve – especially our public schools, and youth, who will be our future leaders.”

Cherokee Nation has distributed $99.7 million to public schools in the Cherokee Nation Reservation and contiguous counties since 2002.

Cherokee Nation operates its own tag agency, issuing its own titles and registrations to Cherokee Nation citizens living both in the Reservation and at-large in Oklahoma as part of the tag compact agreement.

The tribe also allocates 20% for roads and bridges and a percentage to law enforcement.

“The Cherokee Nation continues to be an excellent partner in our communities, especially public schools and education, which has always been at the forefront of our tribe,” Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner said. “The funds from the sales of our tribal car tags provide our teachers what they need in their classrooms and directly invests into the next generation.”

School superintendents from across the Cherokee Nation Reservation gathered Tuesday for an appreciation luncheon and received their district checks from the tribe.

“Today is a very exciting day we look forward to every year – not only the financial backing we receive from Cherokee Nation, but also the appreciation they show to our teachers that are doing great things in the classroom,” said Warner Public Schools Superintendent David Vinson. “We appreciate the contribution, it helps us do a lot of things in our district, but it’s bigger than that it’s a community. Some years we use the funds to build and create new programs for students, to create new opportunities for students. That’s what we really like to do, but in those lean years we’re able to use it how we need to, and that’s also very helpful.”

Each school district makes the decision on how to use the funding provided by the Cherokee Nation. In past years, school districts have used the funds to cover teacher salaries, upgrade facilities, support operations, expand technology and bolster school programs.

The money allocated to school districts is based on the number of Cherokee Nation citizens that have enrolled. However, the funding benefits all students in each school district.

“The support of Cherokee Nation citizens and the hard work of our Cherokee Nation Tax Commission staff have continued to help us make a significant financial impact to our schools,” Cherokee Nation Tax Commission Administrator Sharon Swepston said. “Each year, the tax commission is very proud to play a role in helping schools throughout Northeastern Oklahoma leave positive and lasting impacts on students and communities.”

Funding totals by county include the following: Adair County – $581,472.02 Cherokee County – $1,026,519.19 Craig County – $177,085.67 Delaware County – $538,367.10 Mayes County – $552,587.28 Muskogee County – $757,002.35 Nowata County – $95,097.45 Ottawa County – $125,093.14 Osage County – $6,887.90 Rogers County – $743,893.13 Sequoyah County – $664,126.81 Tulsa County – $1,757,525.28 Wagoner County – $294,179.56 Washington County – $273,294.07