Curry County moves restricted opioid settlement funds to juvenile services after SRO plan falters

Curry County staff told the Budget Committee on March 12, 2025, that $74,550 in restricted opioid settlement funds will be reallocated to the juvenile department after an earlier plan to use the money for a school resource officer through the sheriff's office did not move forward.

Budget committee member Ted said the transfer is a cleanup measure to match available restricted settlement revenue to juvenile expenditures. He said the juvenile department may have a timing shortfall for expenses this fiscal year but has grant applications pending that staff expect to cover needs once awarded.

Wendy, identified in the meeting as a juvenile department representative, reported that she has submitted several grants and expects incoming grant revenue but that the funding has not yet been received, which created the perceived shortfall at the time of the review. Ted said the reallocation of opioid-settlement funds would help address juvenile needs in the short term.

The committee also reviewed juvenile prevention grant accounts (ADPEP and TPAP in the transcript) and noted those are grant-funded lines that largely self-balance. No formal budget vote was taken at the meeting to authorize the transfer; staff described it as an internal cleanup that will be reflected in accounting adjustments.