County transfers $1.17 million in opioid settlement funds to county operating accounts

Berkeley County commissioners voted to adopt a resolution moving $1,166,232.46 from the county's opioid settlement account into the general operating budget to cover half of the building debt service and to make up a shortfall in regional jail fees.

"You have in front of your resolution to transfer $1,166,232.46 out of the opioid account into your general operating budget," said Gary Juan, county administrator, describing the motion. Juan told the commission the transfer represents half of the current year's debt service for the day-report-center expansion and roughly $800,000 to address regional jail overages this fiscal year.

Commissioners asked for details about the settlement timeline and the risks of using one-time settlement receipts for recurring expenses. A commissioner asked how many more years of opioid payments the county could expect; Juan said earlier projections ranged from 10 to 13 years but that timing remained uncertain. The commission discussed the long-term budgeting implications, noting the 20-year debt on the judicial center and that retiring other bonds in 2029 or 2030 will free up future capacity.

A motion to adopt the resolution was moved and seconded and carried without a recorded roll-call tally; the clerk announced, "Ayes have it." The commission directed staff to proceed with the transfers as outlined in the resolution.

The resolution was presented as a way to avoid borrowing against reserves and to keep the regional jail account solvent during the current fiscal year. Commissioners also noted tradeoffs: opioid settlement funds are earmarked for opioid-related purposes in many jurisdictions, and several members voiced concern that using settlement proceeds for jail-overage relief reduces resources that could be used for treatment or prevention programs.

The record does not show a separate written schedule for repayments or reallocation beyond the current fiscal-year transfers.