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Dodge County committee sets vetting process for opioid settlement proposals
Summary
The Human Services and Health Board discussed how departments will submit proposals to use opioid settlement funds and asked staff to provide a template linking each proposal to Exhibit E of the settlement agreement. Committee members also requested clearer reporting on available funds and periodic spending updates.
Dodge County's Human Services and Health Board discussed procedures for evaluating proposals to use opioid settlement funds and asked staff to provide clearer financial context with each application.
Why it matters: County officials said they want settlement dollars to fund new or expanded services for people with opioid use disorder while ensuring the funds do not supplant existing programs. The county will require departments to submit proposals that explain proposed use, sustainability, projected outcomes and measurable performance indicators.
What the board agreed: Cameron (county staff responsible for vetting) will receive department proposals first and confirm they meet criteria drawn from the settlement exhibit. "When Cameron vets it, he'll review it," a staff member said. The board asked for a one-page template or checklist tying each proposal directly to Exhibit E of the settlement agreement so members can quickly see whether a request meets eligibility criteria.
Financial transparency: Supervisors asked for clearer reporting of the county's settlement balance. Staff said the statewide settlement portal (Forward Analytics) shows county allocations and that Dodge County's current balance is about $1.8 million, subject to change as funds are distributed. Members asked that presentations accompanying proposals include the current available balance, amounts requested and cumulative spending to date.
Program examples and constraints: Human Services staff described a proposal under development to fund one peer support specialist to serve opioid treatment participants in conjunction with the Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) program. Staff emphasized settlement rules that funds cannot supplant existing dollars and must be used for expansion or new activities. Board members discussed whether to advertise multiple openings to expand capacity; staff said they would start with one position given the limited pool of certified peer support specialists in Wisconsin.
Process and reporting: Staff outlined required proposal elements — requested amount, proposed use, exhibit alignment, sustainability, and measurable outcomes — and said Cameron will vet proposals before sending them to the committee. The committee will then vote to approve or reject proposals; approvals will be recorded in meeting minutes. Staff also committed to periodic reports to the executive committee on programs supported with opioid funds and the balance of the fund.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; staff will circulate a template and include fund balances with future proposals.
