Columbia County authorizes chair to sign Purdue Pharma, Sackler estate settlement

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 15 authorized the chair to sign onto the settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler Family estate, a move county officials said accepts a national allocation of opioid-settlement funds.

Prosecuting Attorney Janine (last name not stated) briefed the board in advance of the vote, explaining Washington State’s portion of one settlement is expected to be roughly $122 million and local governments will receive a share determined in part by local impacts such as opioid-related deaths and population. “It’s a 15 year rollout, but the majority of it will be in this first 3,” Janine said when describing the payment schedule.

Janine told commissioners the county may either sign onto the national settlement to receive a share or attempt separate litigation; she recommended signing, and the board moved to authorize the chair to join the action. The motion passed with no recorded opposition.

Board members and staff discussed lawful uses for the funds; Janine noted that earlier settlements and guidance attach specific uses to the money, typically centered on opioid treatment, prevention and recovery services. Commissioners said they will coordinate with regional partners to assess best uses given the county’s small expected allocation.

The board’s authorization directs the chair to sign the settlement documents; the prosecuting attorney’s office will handle the administrative steps for enrollment. Officials said exact county dollar amounts were not yet calculated at the meeting and will depend on the final allocation formula and bankruptcy outcomes for the defendants.

Commissioners asked staff to track deadlines for sign-up; Janine noted one related deadline was Sept. 30 and another was Oct. 8 for a separate filing, and said she had circulated DocuSign paperwork for signature.