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Ellensburg pledges $100,000 to pooled opioid settlement grant fund
Summary
The council approved putting $100,000 of restricted opioid-settlement proceeds into a pooled grant fund run with Kittitas County; the allocation includes a 10% administrative fee and is intended for harm-reduction programs and community grant awards.
Ellensburg’s City Council voted on Feb. 17 to allocate $100,000 in restricted opioid settlement funds to a pooled grant fund administered jointly with Kittitas County under an interlocal agreement.
City Manager Heidi Baron said the pooled structure will allow the county and city to run a coordinated grant process for agencies addressing opioid-related harms. Under the interlocal, the county will manage the grant process and the city will pay a 10% administrative fee (the recommendation includes that fee). The county expects to receive more than $2 million from the first settlement; the city expects roughly $500,000 across its settlement share, and the city has collected about $169,000 to date.
Baron said a $100,000 allocation for 2026 provides an initial pool of dollars and gives the city representation on the grant-selection body. Councilmember (unnamed in the transcript) moved to approve the $100,000 allocation and the required budget adjustments; another councilmember seconded and the motion passed.
Council and staff noted the $100,000 includes the 10% administrative payment to the county and that additional city settlement receipts will support future grant cycles.
