Chief Tillman seeks congressional budgetary increase and focuses on reallocation of budgetary relief from program closures
OSAGE NATION RESERVATION, OKLA. (August 7, 2026) - The Osage Nation Treasury Department provided the 2025 Osage Nation Audit to Principal Chief Tillman on Thursday, August 6, 2026. The results show a clean audit and produced $7,223,992 in retained revenue. Retained revenue represents funds that remained unspent at the close of fiscal year 2025 and will now be available for future appropriations.
The additional funds provide a significant source of revenue available and strengthen the Nation's overall financial position beyond currently projected revenues. With this updated financial information, Chief Tillman is seeking immediate cooperation from the Legislative Branch to amend Osage Nation Congressional Resolution (ONCR 26-12) and increase the budgetary outlay to the Executive Branch for fiscal year 2027, which was the driver for declaring a State of Emergency on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
"The completion of the fiscal year 2025 audit provides important clarity regarding the Nation's financial position," said Chief Tillman. "While the audit identifies additional retained revenue, the Nation still faces a significant budgetary shortfall unless and until I receive a revised budgetary outlay from the Osage Nation Congress. I am hearing the same discussions many citizens are hearing, but I cannot govern based on discussion or speculation. As Principal Chief, I must make decisions based on the projected revenues and budgetary framework established under Osage law and provided to the Executive Branch.”
Chief Tillman will utilize the budget relief provided by closures of Daposka Ahnkodapi to go towards investing in programs that expand opportunities for language learning and cultural connection for as many Osage children as possible.
Chief Tillman cites the Osage Nation Constitution (Article 17, Section 4) as the driver for his administration: “Our Constitution recognizes that ‘the education of Osage People is essential to building a prosperous and self-determining society’ and specifically directs the Osage Nation to advocate for improvements in the public elementary and secondary schools within the Osage Reservation.’ That responsibility compels us to invest in partnerships, language instruction, and educational opportunities that reach Osage children wherever they attend school, not just those in a single program or location. We have got to increase our reach, not limit it.”
Additionally, an increase in the budgetary outlay, paired with relief from Harvest Land and Visitors Center, would support plans to increase direct services to Osage citizens.
“My administration is committed to strengthening the Nation’s financial position so that, in the future, we can sustain important non-revenue-generating programs and services without jeopardizing our long-term stability. Right now, however, our financial realities require us to make difficult decisions and focus our resources on core governmental functions and direct services.”
The fiscal year 2025 audit report will be presented to the Osage Nation Congress at a future date. Following that presentation, the audit will be made publicly available. Previous audit reports may be accessed on the Osage Nation Treasury Department web page: https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/government/executive-branch/treasury.
Enclosed: ONCR 26-12 citing $60,000,000 budgetary outlay to Executive Branch