Finance Committee recommends appropriations for opioid abatement, state DSS, criminal-justice and public-safety grants; motions approved

The Lynchburg City Council Finance Committee on Sept. 23 voted to recommend several grant appropriations and funding actions to the full council.

Opioid abatement and VDSS funds: The committee recommended appropriation of $266,311 from the Opioid Abatement Authority and $375,033 from the Virginia Department of Social Services. Staff said the opioid-abatement dollars and VDSS funds will be split among four program areas: $52,560 to the Department of Community Corrections and Pretrial Services for treatment for clients on pretrial or probation, $69,958 to the Lynchburg behavioral health docket (a mental-health docket with many co-occurring substance-use cases), $25,000 to Lynchburg Juvenile Services for counseling and education at the group home (youth at the group home are there for shelter or foster-care stabilization, not for criminal convictions), and $118,793 to the Lynchburg Department of Social Services. Of that $118,793, $50,000 is for treatment services and $68,793 serves as the required local match to a VDSS-provided allocation to add child-protective-services workers focused on substance-affected families. Staff said no local dollars are required for the VDSS allocation; city opioid funds will supply the VDSS match. Committee members asked clarifying questions about program uses. The motion to recommend the appropriation carried by voice/roll call (committee recorded unanimous support during roll call).

DCJS Operation Ceasefire grant: The committee recommended appropriation of $148,850 awarded by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to purchase a forensic spectroscope and analytical software to help identify evidentiary items and analyze crime patterns. No local match was required; the committee recommended the appropriation unanimously.

Office of First Responder Wellness grant: The committee recommended appropriation of $30,000 from the Office of First Responder Wellness for a clinically validated, anonymous mobile wellness application for the police department (usable on department or personal devices) that supports resilience, coaching and peer support. The grant covers the first year and staff said future years would require city funding or another grant; emergency communications staff were discussed as possible additional users. The committee recommended the appropriation unanimously.

VDEM Next Generation E911 grant: The committee recommended appropriation of $150,000 from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to purchase wireless communication headsets, ergonomic dispatcher chairs and other Emergency Communication Center improvements to replace end-of-life equipment. No local match was required and the committee recommended the appropriation unanimously.

Performance-based incentives for benefit program specialists: The committee recommended forwarding an ordinance authorizing payment of performance-based incentives to benefit program specialists who meet state Department of Social Services standards for SNAP, TANF and Medicaid processing. Staff said the state requires an ordinance so local staff can qualify for incentive funding; staff said there is no local match and that specific measurement criteria are forthcoming. The committee recommended the ordinance unanimously.

Central Virginia Alliance for Community Living: The committee recommended returning $25,000 from the reserve for contingencies to fund the Central Virginia Alliance for Community Living for FY26; members noted the city council previously agreed to reconsider the request. Staff said the council previously discussed the organization as a discretionary provider and that a five-member majority would be required at full council for final appropriation. The committee recommended the appropriation and noted the contingency fund balance after the recommendation.

Votes at a glance

- Opioid Abatement Authority ($266,311) and VDSS ($375,033) appropriations (tied allocation to Community Corrections, behavioral-health docket, Juvenile Services, and DSS positions): committee recommendation: approved (unanimous on roll call). - DCJS Operation Ceasefire grant ($148,850) for forensic equipment and analytical software: committee recommendation: approved (unanimous). - Office of First Responder Wellness grant ($30,000) for a mobile wellness app: committee recommendation: approved (unanimous). - VDEM NextGen E911 grant ($150,000) for Emergency Communications Center equipment and furniture: committee recommendation: approved (unanimous). - Ordinance authorizing performance-based incentives for benefit program specialists (state-administered incentive funding, no local match): committee recommendation: approved (unanimous). - Central Virginia Alliance for Community Living ($25,000) from reserves: committee recommendation: approved (unanimous recommendation to full council; final appropriation requires five-member majority at full council).