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Washington County reviews opioid settlement balance and options for spending
Summary
Staff reported the county has received roughly $3.0 million in opioid settlement payments, has expended about $1.1 million, and is weighing program and sustainability choices for roughly $1.9 million remaining; staff will bring proposals to the committee for approval.
Washington County Health & Human Services staff briefed the committee April 23 on current opioid settlement receipts, recent uses of the funds and planning steps for remaining dollars.
Julie (Health & Human Services staff member, Washington County) said the county has received slightly more than $3 million in opioid settlement funds and expended roughly $1.1 million, leaving about $1.9 million currently on hand. The county’s report attached to the committee packet projects additional payments through 2038; Julie said the county’s interactive planning tool (developed by WCA and Forward Analytics) helps estimate future receipts and plan spending.
Julie described recent uses of settlement funds: startup and operating support for a recently opened facility, contracting an assistant county attorney to help form a criminal justice coordinating council, and an electronic health record upgrade for behavioral health services. She said the county is exploring other proposals and noted a notification from Vital Strategies offering a grant match of up to $100,000 for specific uses tied to opioid mitigation.
Committee members asked whether the county must allocate or spend the funds on a fixed timetable. Julie said there is no state guidance requiring funds be allocated by a particular date; counties must report quarterly on amounts spent and categories used, but the reporting is intended for transparency and tracking rather than outcomes‑based program metrics. She said several programs funded in whole or part with opioid settlement money have other revenue sources (for example, medication‑assisted treatment funded through state general purpose revenue or federal opioid response grants), and the county is weighing sustainability if settlement dollars taper after 2038.
Julie said additional settlement payments are possible in the future as national litigation continues and the county typically receives notifications when a new settlement allocation is available.
There was no committee vote. Staff said they will develop proposals for how to use the remaining settlement funds and return to the committee with options and cost estimates to guide committee and county board allocation decisions.
