SAN DIEGO -- The Pala tribe is hoping to annex about 50 acres adjacent to the reservation, and Viejas is trying to tag on about 180 acres. In November, Sycuan announced it was seeking about another 2,000 acres.

A Viejas spokesman told 10News, "I can only speak to what we have proposed and it's relatively minor and benign and fits in well with the area."

Last month, when Sycuan asked the federal government to put 2,000 extra acres in trust -- land already owned but outside reservation boundaries -- San Diego County officials immediately spoke up.

County Supervisor Dianne Jacob said, "Once this land is placed in trust, anything can happen."

In a five-page letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, county officials combated the recent Viejas proposal, citing concerns over loss of about $2,700 in taxes. County officials said the more pressing concern is losing control over what is built on the land if it is handed over.

A Viejas spokesman said the land Viejas wants would only be used for building homes.

"It's not a logical spot for a casino or for any other economic development like that, and its not something that we plan," the spokesman said.

Ultimately, it will be up to the U.S. Department of Interior to decide whether the county or the tribes will get control.

Pala tribal chairman Robert Smith said his tribe plans on preserving the 50 acres it requested as a natural habitat around the reservation.