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Mead County approves $7,500 in opioid-settlement funds for Northern Hills Drug Court
Summary
After a presentation on the program and eligible uses under the statewide opioid settlement memorandum of understanding, commissioners approved a $7,500 contribution from contingency replenished by restricted opioid-settlement receipts to support participant needs and incentives for Northern Hills Drug Court.
Mead County commissioners voted to provide $7,500 from contingency funds, to be replaced from restricted opioid-settlement receipts, to support Northern Hills Drug Court.
Karen Hunt, representing the Northern Hills Drug Court, described the program as a supervised treatment and recovery court that serves individuals with opioid and other substance use disorders from Meade, Butte and Lawrence counties. "We are requesting at this point that we receive the amount of $7,500," Hunt said, explaining funds would cover participant supports that the Unified Judicial System does not provide, such as interim housing assistance, car repairs, GED funding and small incentives.
The request followed a memorandum of understanding governing eligible uses of opioid settlement funds; the drug court team described the proposed county contribution as aligned with the MOU’s Exhibit A listing support for treatment and recovery courts. The presenters said the program operates under national best-practice standards and that the $7,500 represents Mead County’s share of a $15,000 request across three counties.
Commissioners discussed the funding source and accounting approach; the motion approved funds to come out of contingency with replacement from the county’s restricted opioid settlement receipts. The motion carried without a recorded roll-call breakdown. Program staff said they would continue required reporting and return for future annual requests.
