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Board accepts opioid-settlement annual report and approves equal per-district allocation of funds
Summary
Mohave County accepted an annual report on opioid-settlement grant awards and then voted to modify grant distribution so remaining annual settlement funds are allocated evenly across the five supervisor districts, minus administrative costs.
The Mohave County Board of Supervisors accepted an annual report on opioid‑settlement grant awards and oversight at its March 3 meeting and then voted to change how future annual distributions are allocated.
Director of Health and Human Services (presentation by Director Palmer) summarized fiscal‑year 2024 and 2025 grant activity supported by opioid settlement dollars. The county has funded prevention, treatment and recovery programs that included Catholic Charities, WestCare, Not My Kid, Teros (by name in transcript), Southwest Behavioral, Kingman Regional Medical Center, Mohave Substance Treatment Education Prevention Partnership (M‑STEP) and others. Reported outcomes in the review included program enrollments, graduates from quality‑of‑life court programs, distribution of naloxone, and peer‑support specialist training. The county reported spending in fiscal year 2024 and 2025 and said staff added stronger reporting requirements after year 1 to improve tracking and outcomes data.
After discussion of program performance and county oversight, the board considered a proposal to modify county policy so annual settlement funds (after administrative costs) are split evenly among the five supervisor districts. Proponents said the change would ensure each district has an equal share of funds for local providers; supporters also argued for stronger local oversight and for requiring measurable outcomes from grantees. Opponents urged that high‑performing providers should be considered for renewals without forcing competition each year.
The supervisors voted to approve the modification. The motion directed staff to allocate the county’s annual opioid‑settlement funding evenly across the five supervisor districts, with administrative costs deducted first. The board’s vote followed staff confirmation that the county has authority to distribute settlement funds and that any allocation model requires administrative oversight comparable to ARPA‑era grants.
Director Palmer outlined a recommended approach for fiscal year 2026 that would reserve up to $500,000 for renewals of top performers, $900,000 for a new request‑for‑proposal cycle and funds for administrative oversight; the board’s approved allocation model overrides staff recommendation to keep distribution countywide and instead places district‑level allocation control into effect.
Supervisors and staff agreed continuing oversight—quarterly reporting, strict invoice review and performance metrics—will be necessary to ensure the funds support measurable local outcomes.
