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City details proposed uses for $13.3 million in opioid settlement funds; county co‑investment proposed
Summary
Administration proposed using opioid settlement dollars for CARES expansion, a high‑utilizer initiative, Revive outreach, and to co‑invest with Spokane County in expanding medication‑assisted treatment and sobering beds; staff also proposed culturally‑specific treatment planning and a data analyst in the mayor—s office.
City staff presented a spending‑plan (SBO) framework for the city—s portion of opioid settlement funds and described proposed co‑investments with Spokane County to expand treatment and sobering‑bed capacity.
Maggie Yates told the committee the city will receive about $13.3 million over 17 years from opioid settlements and that the administration already allocated $1.1 million in 2024 to expand CARES (fire‑department social workers/case managers), to a high‑utilizer initiative managed by Consistent Care, and to outreach via Revive for homeless navigation.
Proposed 2025 uses: Yates said the administration proposes $350,000 of city opioid funds matched by Spokane County to expand medication‑assisted treatment (MAT) capacity at the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD), including extended hours and a drop‑off option for first responders. A matching $500,000 city–county allocation would expand services with Stars and add about 12 sobering beds. Separate city investments proposed include up to $500,000 for a planning grant to develop culturally specific treatment options and funding for a data analyst in the mayor—s office to track outcomes and coordinate datasets across public safety and health partners.
Council questions and concerns: Councilors asked whether SRHD has capacity and whether matching dollars are the best use if SRHD shows a surplus. Yates said county counterparts and SRHD are part of planning and that some funding is billable over time, which could create ongoing revenue. Councilors pressed for clearer sustainability plans and for stronger coordination with SRHD and the county. One councilor asked whether a full‑time data analyst role is necessary, and staff replied that integrating multiple administrative datasets (police, fire, medical examiner, county) and tracking program outcomes will fill a full‑time workload.
Next steps: Staff said they would continue planning with Spokane County and SRHD, refine the SBO for council consideration and supply additional detail on sustainability and data‑sharing agreements before formal approval.
