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Mooresville to participate in opioid settlement process but town ineligible for direct funds under state agreements
Summary
Council clarified that Mooresville may participate in statewide settlement activities but, under the settlement terms described by staff, only municipalities with populations over 75,000 are directly eligible to receive distribution funds; Mooresville could benefit indirectly if county allocations are directed to local programs.
At the Sept. 10 meeting a commissioner asked whether Mooresville could receive funds from opioid settlement distributions to support first responders. A staff member responding to the board said the settlement agreement language with the state restricts direct municipal eligibility to municipalities with populations of 75,000 or greater.
"The answer is no," the staff member said. "Based on the agreement that was entered with the State of North Carolina, only municipalities that are over 75,000 individuals of residents, are eligible for those funds." The staff member added Mooresville’s participation in settlement-related work could increase aggregate settlement proceeds to the state and county and potentially result in county-level funds that could be directed to programs serving the town.
Commissioners discussed whether the county could direct some funds to local first-responder training, Narcan or other opioid-response efforts and staff said that route would be an option to explore with county officials. Staff also said settlement funds are typically restricted to specific allowable uses, such as opioid treatment, prevention and related program costs, and would need a plan for the use of any received funds.
