Madison County tables action on opioid settlement funds amid legal questions

Madison County supervisors agreed to table a resolution to apply for opioid settlement funds after legal and administrative concerns surfaced about allowable uses and reporting responsibilities.

County Attorney Erin told the board she had circulated a memo outlining legal questions and had discussed the settlement's Exhibit E with the attorney general's office. Erin and other participants said the AG's office would review whether particular faith-based or programmatic uses align with the settlement terms. The board discussed risks of prematurely distributing funds if later found to be disallowed by the settlement terms and acknowledged that state-level dollars already totalled "$55,000,000" in the state's account, as referenced in the meeting.

Supervisors and staff said other counties are proceeding cautiously; at least one supervisor recommended waiting for explicit guidance. The board asked staff to gather resources (ISAC webinars and AG guidance) and to identify or appoint a stable point person to monitor and report on settlement-funded activities should the county accept funds. The discussion closed with consensus to table the application until legal clarification and administrative processes are established.

No funding awards or program decisions were made at the meeting; supervisors emphasized the need for a clear compliance approach before accepting or distributing any settlement money.