The City Council on Sept. 15 authorized Charlottesville to participate in a proposed round of opioid‑manufacturer settlements that add several manufacturers to the statewide settlement process. Ashley Reynolds Marshall, deputy city manager for social equity, said the new national settlement with seven manufacturers will provide Virginia a portion of approximately $720 million nationally and that the city will receive a direct allocation under Virginia’s settlement framework.

Marshall said the city has already received funds through prior national settlements and state allocations (about $1.5 million projected over 20 years, as presented), and that Charlottesville has received roughly $400,000 to date from direct settlements and has used grants and settlement funds for local projects, including city naloxone purchases and a pilot to provide long‑acting injectable medication in coordination with the Albemarle Regional Jail.

Why it matters: The funds are restricted to opioid remediation, prevention and recovery programs. Participation in the new settlements requires council authorization for the city to accept and process its share of any new allocations; council voted to authorize participation and to let the city attorney sign related documents.

Councilors asked for detail on funds already spent and pending applications. Marshall said the city had applied for and received funds for naloxone distribution and for regional jail medication‑assisted treatment and was waiting on one additional award from the Opioid Abatement Authority.

Ending: Council approved participation in the settlements and instructed staff to execute necessary documents so Charlottesville can receive its share of any new funds and continue applying funds to local prevention and recovery programs.