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Salina, Saline County approve joint framework to spend opioid settlement funds
Summary
The commission authorized the mayor to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Saline County creating a joint committee to oversee opioid settlement funds; staff said roughly $500,000 has arrived and the committee will coordinate awards while each jurisdiction keeps its own funds.
The Salina City Commission on Sept. 8 authorized the mayor to sign an agreement with Saline County to jointly oversee and administer opioid settlement funds from national pharmaceutical settlements.
Sean Hennessy, assistant city manager, told commissioners that the city and county have already received settlement payments and that the two jurisdictions together have about $500,000 available. The agreement would create a joint committee with four city appointees and three county appointees to recommend expenditures and coordinate contracting while each jurisdiction retains separate fiscal control of its own receipts.
Hennessy said a prior study identified four priorities: improve access to treatment and services; expand prevention, education and awareness; reduce stigma; and strengthen support for people in recovery. Under the draft breakdown discussed at the meeting, the city would contribute $35,000 toward the study priorities and the county $15,000; staff said those figures reflect the initial allocation for the study work the committee will use to develop programs.
Hennessy emphasized none of the funds are city tax revenues; they are settlement proceeds. He said the committee will remain an active oversight body until the settlement distribution ends (staff cited 2038 as the approximate end year). The commission approved the agreement by voice vote, 5‑0.
