SUQUAMISH — To the Suquamish Tribe, being specific helps. Especially when it comes being able to request money that will help improve the jobs of local law enforcement officers and emergency response personnel.

The tribe recently released its 2 Percent Impact Fees, which are funds paid out every two years from the tribe to law enforcement and fire fighting agencies that are impacted by activities at Clearwater Casino.

While there are set amounts for each agency, Suquamish Tribal Attorney Michelle Hansen said that when an agency provides a wish list of equipment to the impact committee, their request is taken into consideration.

For the Poulsbo Police Department, the effort taken to spell out its needs for additional tools paid off.

This year, instead of receiving $15,000, the Poulsbo Police Department made a specific request — $40,800 for 11 portable radios at $800 each, two mobile computer terminals for the police cars at $8,000 each and 16 tasers at $1,000 each. The impact mitigation committee felt more disposed to equipment purchases rather than just handing out a check for a standard amount, said Poulsbo Police Chief Jeff Doran.

“They wanted actual equipment to enforce the law and assist them more professionally if we were called,” he said. “It worked out great.”

The other public service groups that benefit are:

• Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office — $30,000

• Suquamish Tribal Police — $30,000

• City of Bainbridge Island Police — $15,000

• North Kitsap Fire & Rescue — $15,000

• Poulsbo Fire Department — $15,000

In order to receive funding, each agency is to required to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The MOU goes through each agencies’ board of commissioners, or a similar group, for approval before being sent back to the tribe. Upon receipt of the MOU, the tribe releases the funds. That process can take a couple months or more, but the MOU must be signed within a year for the money to be distributed. If not, the funds are given to other groups.

While Poulsbo Police seemed to get a big chunk of change, everyone received an increase in their funding this time around.

One committee member noticed that the amount of money distributed per agency had not changed in seven years but it was obvious the cost of goods had increased, said Hansen. Previously. KCSO and Suquamish Tribal Police received $20,000 per two-year period and Poulsbo and Bainbridge Police and NKF&R and PFD received $10,000 per period.

The 2 Percent Impact Fees are from up to 2 percent of the net wins at Clearwater Casino. This is different from the tribe’s Appendix X fees, which are distributed quarterly to non-profit groups.

The impact fee committee that makes this determination is made up of three tribal council members, a State Gambling Commission agent, the Suquamish Tribal Police Chief, a representative from the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, Bainbridge Island City Council and Poulsbo City Council and an at-large position, which has never been filled.