Josephine County legal counsel urges opt-in to national opioid settlement; board to consider on Sept. 18

Josephine County legal counsel updated the Board of Commissioners on a proposed national opioid settlement linked to Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family and recommended the county join the settlement before the Sept. 30 opt-in deadline.

The settlement would route payments to participating Oregon jurisdictions over 15 years. ‘‘If the maximum number of jurisdictions in Oregon participate would bring into Josephine County about $1,085,000 over the course of 15 years,’’ legal counsel said, describing the distribution as subject to approved abatement uses.

Why it matters: the settlement proceeds must be spent only on approved abatement activities tied to opioid harm reduction and related programs. Counsel said many Oregon jurisdictions are expected to participate and that initial payments may arrive during the current fiscal year.

Counselor Hicks (legal counsel) told the board the first payment ‘‘would arrive before the end of the fiscal year’’ and that some defendants have sometimes sent more than one payment within a fiscal year. He also noted the county already administers proceeds from prior opioid settlements and expects the same program to receive future funds.

Commissioners pressed staff on timing and implementation. Commissioner Smith asked whether payments would fall in next year’s budget; Hicks replied the first payment is anticipated before the end of this fiscal year. Commissioners also asked whether funds could flow to nonprofits; Hicks and staff said some approved abatement uses historically have included contracts with nonprofit providers, advertising campaigns and inter-jurisdictional partnerships.

County staff offered to produce a summary showing where past opioid settlement dollars have been spent and to solicit board priorities for future disbursements. ‘‘We would be more than happy to come in and provide you a summary with where all those funds are being sent, and what they've been historically spent on,’’ a staff member said.

No formal opt-in vote occurred at the meeting. Counsel said the deadline to opt in is Sept. 30 and recommended the board take the step; the board directed staff to place the matter on the Sept. 18 administrative meeting agenda for formal consideration and possible authorization.

Next steps: staff will prepare a briefing on historical and prospective uses of opioid settlement funds and the board will consider an opt-in authorization at its Sept. 18 meeting.