The City of Charleston Finance Committee on Oct. 6 approved Resolution 25-94, authorizing the City Treasurer to transfer $800,000 from the opioid settlement fund to the Care Office fund to sustain operations through the end of fiscal year 2027.

Council member (Mr.) Michaud told the committee the transfer would continue funding for Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) positions and provide for personnel, supplies and equipment as needed because grant funding that had supported those positions "has reached the end of their life." "This should give us more than enough to accomplish that," Michaud said.

Discussion: staff said the funds are intended mostly for personnel costs and that finance staff worked to estimate a figure sufficient to support the Care Office through fiscal 2027. No public comment or alternative funding sources were presented at the meeting.

Decision: the committee moved and approved the resolution by voice vote; the ayes were declared to have adopted Resolution 25-94.

Why it matters: the transfer uses opioid settlement dollars to maintain local behavioral health/crisis intervention staffing after grant funding expired, extending the Care Office's staffing commitments through FY2027.

Next steps: the City Treasurer and finance staff will complete the fund transfer and continue to monitor grant and personnel budgets for the Care Office.