Anacortes council debates uses for $365,000 in opioid settlement funds; options include SRO, social worker, and youth programs

Finance Director Steve Hoagland told council members on Nov. 3 that the city has reconciled receipts from opioid settlements and expects $365,457 available in 2026.

"To date, it received $332,000. The only money we've spent of that is for Zeke at 15,000, leaving a balance, currently at $317,515," Hoagland said, and added projected additional 2026 revenues of $47,942 for a total projected $365,457.

Council members discussed several prioritized uses. Staff identified options including fully funding the School Resource Officer (SRO) — roughly $80,000 to move from a shared cost to city-funded — and a contract amount previously discussed with the Anacortes Family Center (AFC) for a social worker (staff had previously identified $30,000 as a possible allocation). Parks, library and museum directors proposed a combined prevention proposal of $15,000 per year for five years (total $75,000) to support youth programs and summer staffing aimed at early intervention.

Council debate split around upstream prevention versus regional recovery investments. Councilmember Walters said the prevention package is appealing and suggested trialing $15,000 for a year. "My inclination, it really is to support library museum and parks with their request because we are simultaneously cutting those departments," Walters said. Councilmember Fantini…