The Champaign County Board on Nov. 20, 2025 approved multiple actions to allocate opioid settlement funds for first-responder equipment in fire protection districts.

Rodriguez moved and Wiggs seconded Resolution No. 2025-327 approving agreements between the county and fire protection districts to purchase first-responder equipment intended to improve the survival likelihood for overdose victims in areas far from hospitals. The board voted in favor.

Because the bulk purchase for multiple fire districts exceeded standard purchasing thresholds, the board then approved Resolution No. 2025-328 granting an exception to the Champaign County purchasing policy to permit the consolidated purchase. Members said the exception was necessary due to the scale of the order.

Separately, the board adopted Budget Amendment BUA 2025-11-129 to increase appropriations in Fund 2680 (opioid settlement fund, department 75) by $167,000 with no increase in revenue, to support the purchases approved under the resolutions. A roll-call vote on the budget amendment was unanimous.