Committee approves $100,000 allocation for prevention coalition building in Winchester Street plan

County finance staff asked the Opioid Abatement Committee whether to commit $100,000 to the Sumner Prevention Coalition for a planned purchase of building and land on Winchester Street. The committee voted in favor during the meeting and the motion carried with an audible “Aye.”

A county staff member explained that if the committee approves the allocation now, the money would be placed into the FY25–26 operating budget and could not be accessed until the full county budget is adopted. The staff member said prevention coalition plans include subdividing part of the property and making a portion available to recovery court nonprofits.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about the property’s intended use and whether the request was for the building or the school; staff clarified the property was for community services and not a school. The finance representative said the committee’s vote was a project-level commitment subject to budget adoption and that the funds would remain unavailable until that budget cycle concluded. The motion passed on a voice vote.

Clarifying details provided in the meeting: - The requested amount for the prevention coalition purchase was $100,000. - If approved, the allocation would be recorded in the county’s FY25–26 operating budget and not available until budget adoption.

The committee moved on to other business after recording the vote; staff said the prevention coalition agenda item would be visible in public notices when the county advertises potential nonprofit funding decisions.