Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Substance Use Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
United Community Services outlines $3M substance‑use funding allocations, asks Shawnee for larger alcohol‑tax support
Summary
United Community Services of Johnson County presented results from the county substance‑use continuum of care fund (SUF), described allocations from the alcohol‑tax and opioid settlement funds, and asked Shawnee to increase its alcohol‑tax (ATF) contribution to sustain a roughly $3 million annual grant pool.
United Community Services (UCS) briefed the Shawnee City Council committee in May on administration of Johnson County’s substance‑use continuum of care funds (SUF), explained how alcohol‑tax and opioid settlement dollars were pooled, and asked the city to consider increasing its contribution to address a funding gap.
A UCS presenter described UCS as a nonprofit that supports planning and data analysis for health and human services and said UCS ‘‘does not deliver direct services. We instead empower those agencies with the tools to collaborate and implement best practices.’’ She said the SUF is the combination of the alcohol tax fund (ATF) and opioid settlement funds as of 2024 and that UCS now acts as the fiscal agent and administrator for the competitive grant process in Johnson County.
UCS reported that the combined pool supported about 90,000 residents in 2024 and that total grant distributions that year were about $3,000,000. The presenter said there was a funding gap of roughly $2,000,000 across participating jurisdictions and that 26 organizations ran 36 programs; 24 programs were funded with ATF dollars. UCS also described 12 agencies that received opioid settlement funds in the county and said those programs served more than 14,000 residents with naloxone, opioid‑specific trainings, drug‑disposal solutions and treatment workforce support.
On funding sources and rules, UCS explained that the alcohol tax fund is derived from a state excise tax on liquor sold by the drink and that a portion of those proceeds must be spent for programs whose principal purpose is alcoholism and drug abuse prevention or treatment. UCS noted that opioid settlement funds are front‑loaded and will decline through 2040 unless jurisdictions identify other revenue.
UCS said the Drug and Alcoholism Council, a multi‑jurisdiction body with representatives from participating cities and county organizations, oversees the competitive grant process and uses periodic needs assessments to set priorities. UCS told the council it ‘‘respectfully ask[s] for an increase of ATF dollars and level fund of OSF dollars’’ to help maintain the $3 million pool and close recent funding gaps.
Councilmembers asked about trends in youth substance‑use data and measurement. The presenter said a previously widely used survey (Kansas Communities That Care) has faced opt‑in legislative changes, limiting available youth survey data; UCS relies on other program data such as school‑based AlcoholEdu participation to monitor trends.
The presentation was informational. UCS said its formal request for an increase has been submitted to the city manager for the 2026 budget process; the council did not take a formal vote at the meeting.
