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Cowlitz County updates public on $2.7 million in opioid settlement funds and options for use
Summary
Health department staff updated commissioners on opioid settlement receipts (~$2.7M), eligible uses under the One Washington memorandum of understanding, the regional opioid abatement council oversight, and possible next steps including RFPs or a local funding subcommittee.
Cowlitz County health officials told the Board of County Commissioners the county has received about $2.7 million so far from opioid settlements and outlined allowable uses and governance requirements.
"So for Cowlitz County, we receive opioid settlement funding," Gina James, director of Health and Human Services, told the commission. She said the county joined the One Washington memorandum of understanding to claim settlement funds; distributions are formula-driven by population and opioid-use prevalence. James said total revenue received through May is a little more than $2.7 million, with total expenditures to date of about $30,000.
James reviewed the memorandum’s core strategies — including naloxone distribution, treatment expansion, services for pregnant and postpartum women, and syringe-service programs with wraparound linkage to care — and noted the agreement prioritizes those activities but also lists additional allowable uses. She described an opioid abatement council for the region: one representative from each jurisdiction must meet at least once a year and can review concerns about allowable uses, though the council does not have veto authority.
James said one settlement comes with long-term annual payments, roughly $400,000 per year tapering to about $200,000 by the end of its term; the county’s summary document lists an anticipated total of about $7,000,006.99 in payouts across settlements. The department has not yet decided whether to issue a competitive request for proposals or to form a local advisory subcommittee; public commenters suggested a limited, time-bound subcommittee and recommended prioritizing evidence-based programs and a potential local treatment facility.
Public-health and extension staff urged a structured process: "possibly put together a subcommittee ... to really maybe have some treatment providers at the table, prevention providers," Jennifer Leach of WSU Extension told commissioners. Leach recommended RFPs with clear performance objectives and evaluation requirements.
James said jurisdictions may receive additional requests from local providers and that staff will vet requests for eligibility under the memorandum. The county posts settlement expenditures on a public landing page and serves as the lead for the regional opioid abatement council.
