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 and others argued funding direct recovery services and the AFC social-worker position serves an immediate need; Councilmember Fantini prioritized in-place services such as the AFC social worker and the SRO alongside youth prevention.

Northstar regional requests were discussed; staff summarized a Northstar proposal that included larger-scale projects (detox bridge housing, Skagit Star Center) with multi-million-dollar budgets and a state-administered share, but council members noted those projects rely on regional funding and may be outside the city's immediate fiscal capacity.

Why this matters: The city must decide how to spend a restricted, finite opioid settlement fund that can be used for prevention, treatment, recovery and related services. Choices align with competing priorities: prevention and youth outreach (library/museum/parks), local public safety and school-based prevention (SRO), and social services that assist people currently in need (AFC social worker) or larger regional investments (Northstar).

Next steps: Staff will compile council preferences and present allocation options in upcoming budget deliberations; council scheduled further budget hearings Nov. 10 and Nov. 17.

Speakers

- Steve Hoagland, Finance Director (presented opioid settlement reconciliation and projections). - Councilmember Walters (supported trial funding to library/museum/parks prevention package). - Councilmember Fantini (prioritized AFC social worker, SRO and regional obligations).

Authorities

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Actions

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Discussion vs. decision

- Discussion: Staff provided revenue reconciliation and a menu of eligible uses. Council debated priorities among prevention, immediate social services and regional partnerships. - Direction: Staff to return with clearer allocation proposals and to capture council preference ahead of Nov. budget hearings. - Decision: None final on Nov. 3; no binding appropriation from opioid funds was adopted that night.

Clarifying details

- Reconciled receipts: To date received $332,000; $15,000 spent (Zeke program); balance $317,515; projected additional revenue $47,942; projected total available in 2026 $365,457 (staff presentation). - Staff-identified allocations: Full SRO funding ~ $80,000; AFC suggested funding $30,000 in draft budget; library/museum/parks prevention request $15,000 annually for five years (total $75,000). Source: staff slides and department presentations.

Proper names

[{"name":"Anacortes Family Center","type":"organization"},{"name":"Northstar","type":"program"},{"name":"Skagit County","type":"jurisdiction"}]

Community relevance

{"geographies":["Anacortes","Skagit County"],"funding_sources":["opioid settlement funds"],"impact_groups":["youth","students","people with opioid use disorder","library and museum program attendees"]}

Meeting context

{"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":9,"duration_minutes":95,"items_count":1},"implementation_risk":"medium","history":[{"date":"2025-09-15","note":"Northstar program overview presented to council; regional projects discussed."}],"notes":"Councilers voiced divergent priorities for prevention vs. recovery. Staff will return with allocation options."}

Searchable tags

["opioid_settlement","SRO","AFC","prevention_programs","Northstar"]

Provenance

{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block-3167","local_start":0,"local_end":140,"evidence_excerpt":"Thank you, mayor. If I may, council asked for a little bit more information on the opioid settlement money last week. So we put together a couple of slides to hopefully provide more information...To date, it receded $332,000 The only money we've spent of that is for Zeke at 15,000, leaving a balance, currently at $317,515.","tc_start":"00:26:07","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block-3418","local_start":0,"local_end":200,"evidence_excerpt":"So no 1 is better that at stretching their dollars, in my opinion, than parks and library and the museum. ... So I have a lot of faith in how this money will be stretched and spent.","tc_start":"00:34:38","reason_code":"topicfinish"}] }