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Needham finance committee approves $50,000 opioid-settlement appropriation to support recovery services
Summary
The finance committee approved a $50,000 FY27 appropriation from the town's opioid-settlement fund to support recovery work, including a full-time peer recovery coach; staff said the town's opioid fund balance is about $365,000 and reporting requirements must be met to preserve future funding.
The Needham Finance Committee voted to approve an appropriation request of $50,000 from the town's opioid-settlement fund to support recovery programs, including a full-time peer recovery coach.
An agency official told the committee the FY27 request is modest because the town has not yet spent the prior allocations and the settlement fund continues to earn interest. "The request for next fiscal year is modest at 50,000... part of that was due to the delay in hiring a full time recovery coach," the agency official said. Staff reported the fund balance is "just a little over 365,000." The official added there is no annual "use it or lose it" penalty, but programmatic and fiscal reports must be filed each year to remain eligible for continued funding.
The appropriation was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. Committee members discussed how the recovery coach is structured: staff described the role as an FTE peer-recovery position intended to provide individualized support, and said early feedback has been positive.
What's next: staff will continue programmatic reporting and implementation; the committee recorded the motion and will forward the approved warrant article to town meeting for ratification when required.
