Would Council reduction make the Navajo government more efficient?
• No, Council reduction would not make the Navajo government more efficient. Supporters of Council reduction base criticism on accusations of mismanagement of funds and the so called uncontrolled spending of Navajo dollars by Council. What people need to realize is the Executive Branch of the Navajo Nation—through the Office of the President—control the lion’s share of approximately 94 cents of every dollar or 93.67% of the tribal budget, based on the FY 2010 budget. The Legislative Branch only receives 3.712% and the Judicial Branch 2.615%. These are very small fractions of the pie. The Navajo President and his initiative petition to reduce the Council continually ask how much of the Legislative Branch’s budget is being wasted? Rather, the Navajo people should be asking how much of the nearly 94% Executive Branch budget is being wasted? The next fundamental question is what has been accomplished with that allocated money in the past 7 years of the President’s administration—two terms
