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Hillsdale commissioners split on opioid-settlement awards; cadet program gets funding, prevention ad proposal fails
Summary
The board rejected a $90,000 proposal for a social-media youth-prevention campaign but approved a separate $36,500 award to the local Civil Air Patrol squadron for cadet outreach. Commissioners split over local control, measurement and fit with Exhibit E spending rules.
HILLSDALE, Mich. — The Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners voted against a $90,000 social-media prevention proposal but approved a $36,500 award to the Civil Air Patrol for cadet outreach, reflecting sharply different views on how opioid-settlement funds should be spent.
The first recommendation, from the county’s opioid committee, was to award up to $90,000 to the Coalition for Youth Drug Abuse Prevention for a digital ad campaign targeting youth. Committee members said the campaign would run targeted ads on platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat and report basic ad metrics (views, skips). Several commissioners criticized the proposal’s origin and budget lines, questioned whether the group was sufficiently local and said benchmarks and follow-up measures were not clear. "I have a problem being a guinea pig on this and funding this to an entity in Arizona," one commissioner said during debate. The motion failed on a roll call.
A second opioid-committee recommendation to award $36,500 to the Civil Air Patrol of Hillsdale Composite Squadron for cadet recruitment and outreach passed by a narrow roll-call vote. Supporters said the Civil Air Patrol’s local cadet program conducts peer-to-peer education and outreach in schools; some commissioners said the group’s Red Ribbon / prevention activities provided an established path to reach youth. Opponents warned the county should prioritize broader local coalitions and programs under Exhibit E guidance for opioid settlement spending.
County staff noted the opioid fund balance and emphasized the committee had vetted the proposals over months and sought metrics and post-award reporting. The board’s split votes reflected continuing debate over local versus outside providers, measurable outcomes and how to prioritize limited opioid-settlement dollars.
