Kamal Kapoor, finance director for the Department of Health, Human and Veteran Services, briefed the committee on adjustments to the opioid settlement fund. Kapoor said the county has received just over $20 million so far from settlements and described two pools of money: one that must be reported against specific settlements and another that is more flexible if used for opioid-related activities. He said roughly $1.6 million is currently in the reportable pool and the rest is available under broader opioid-related-activity rules.

Kapoor said staff initially considered using opioid funds to fully support the mental health authority payment but stopped after state guidance indicated that approach was on "shaky" footing. He described a conservative approach to budgeting the settlement receipts: identify the annual amount needed, cap county spending at roughly $4'$5 million per year for planning purposes, and retain additional receipts in the fund balance to preserve flexibility over the expected 18-year payout schedule.

Commissioners asked about reporting and restrictions; Kapoor said staff will follow reporting requirements and keep the committee informed. No change to programmatic awards or vendor contracts was finalized at the committee meeting; the item was included in a package approved to move forward to the full board with additional staff consultation.