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County staff recommends holding opioid-settlement funds until federal and state budgets settle
Summary
County staff recommended the Board of Commissioners hold opioid-settlement receipts in reserve rather than immediately allocating them; staff cited uncertain federal and state budgets and noted settlement funds can be used only for prevention, treatment or law enforcement.
County staff told the Board of Commissioners on Nov. 18 that Albany County is beginning to receive opioid-settlement payments but recommended keeping the funds in reserve rather than making immediate allocations.
Bailey (S8) said other counties are already allocating settlement dollars but said the county should wait until federal and state budget outcomes are clearer to avoid using settlement funds immediately for programs that might later be reduced by budget cuts. Bailey noted settlement funds are permitted only for prevention, treatment or law-enforcement uses and suggested an RFP-based program for nonprofits similar to how the county distributed ARPA funds.
Staff said they have a spreadsheet snapshot of revenues received so far but do not yet have a final total for the county. Bailey suggested revisiting allocation decisions after the county fiscal year ends (post-July) and emphasized there is no statutory deadline to spend settlement funds.
Commissioners expressed support for a community-wide approach that could involve nonprofits, hospitals and law enforcement. Bailey said she will bring the matter back for discussion after the county has clearer revenue figures and fiscal-year outcomes.
No formal allocation or binding direction to distribute funds was approved at the Nov. 18 meeting.
