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County attorney urges using $7 million opioid settlement funds now; commission opts to refine proposal in budget process
Summary
County Attorney Troy Rellings urged the Davis County Commission to move roughly $7 million from an opioid settlement account into the general fund for settlement‑allowed uses, citing staffing and service needs; commissioners asked staff to prepare a detailed, statute‑compliant proposal for the budget process rather than acting immediately.
County Attorney Troy Rellings told the Davis County Commission on Aug. 26 that roughly $7 million linked to opioid settlements is sitting in county accounts and should be transferred into the general fund so it can be allocated to settlement‑allowed programs now.
"My recommendation to the county commission is to take the $7,000,000, put it in the general fund to be allocated for allowable uses under the settlement agreement," Rellings said, identifying likely recipients as the Sheriff’s Office, the County Attorney’s Office, public defenders, pretrial services and Davis Behavioral Health. He criticized a 2023 state statute that he said restricts local use of those funds, calling the statutory constraints ‘‘an unconstitutional, unlawful interference’’ with county settlement agreements.
Staff and department leaders described specific, settlement‑allowed proposals they are finalizing: a new rehabilitation services division in the County Attorney’s Office to coordinate specialty courts and diversion; funding for forensic social workers and warm‑handoffs from the jail; a $200,000 body scanner to detect contraband; and naloxone supplies and correctional‑facility overdose prevention measures. Officials said these proposals are designed to conform with both the settlement agreement and state statutory reporting requirements.
Commissioners discussed operational and legal risks. Some members supported immediate action and even litigation against the state if necessary; others urged caution given the statute, audit risk and the need for tight, auditable justifications. Staff and commissioners agreed to meet individually with department leads before a formal presentation, consolidate numbers and include the opioid funds allocation options in the upcoming budget process. No vote was taken to transfer funds at the work session.
Next steps: staff will produce a consolidated proposal that documents how each proposed expenditure fits the settlement’s allowable categories and the state reporting units, then return during the budget process with recommended allocations and compliance documentation.
