Mayor asks board to consider using opioid-settlement funds for local addiction services
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Summary
The mayor revisited options for the city’s opioid-settlement payments—roughly estimated at $34,000–$61,000 per year depending on settlement—and recommended allocating funds to a local provider with a record on addiction services rather than funding court operations.
The mayor reopened discussion on how the city should use opioid-settlement funds that will arrive over multiple years. The mayor said annual payments vary among settlement sources and estimated the range presented in the meeting at roughly $34,000 to $61,000 per year.
The mayor said the funds were not included in the proposed city budget because the board had not decided on their use. The mayor recommended putting some or all of the settlement funds toward community addiction services and cited a local advocate, Stacy Dodd, who had proposed using the money for prevention and treatment efforts. The mayor said he favored placing the money with a local organization with proven results in reducing overdose deaths rather than funding court operations, which several aldermen said would be less appropriate for city funds.
Board members asked whether a county crisis center proposal (Region 4) overlapped with Dodd’s request. The mayor said the county’s plan differed and that more research was needed before making a final allocation. He asked aldermen to think about options and noted a decision should be made within the next couple months.
No formal allocation was adopted; the board directed staff to research alternatives and return with recommendations.