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Counties advised to map expenses to Exhibit E; panel addresses remnant settlements and eligibility questions
Summary
Panelists advised counties to link expenditures to Exhibit E categories and to consult county attorneys; they also discussed a 'remnant' settlement that may allow cities over 30,000 population to opt in and recommended counties alert potentially eligible cities.
Panelists on the ISAC webinar urged counties to be specific in reports about how settlements funds are used and to include which Exhibit E category each expenditure falls under to reduce future compliance questions.
"That would just be helpful for our purposes too," Bill Pearson said, urging counties to indicate the Exhibit E section they believe applies when reporting travel, equipment or administrative costs. Monica Wilkie Brown added it is useful to clarify how expenses connect to Exhibit E abatement goals so counties are "safer from any kind of questioning" about eligibility.
During the Q&A a participant said they had received notice about a remnant settlement that appears to provide payments directly to counties and to eligible cities. The participant asked whether cities in Polk County had been informed and whether counties should reach out to cities to make sure they opt in.
Bill Pearson said his workgroup has not been involved with that particular remnant settlement and that the settlement administrator likely provided contact information to eligible jurisdictions. A participant noted the remnant settlement appeared to list cities over 30,000 population and advised counties with such cities to make outreach so local governments do not "leave money on the table."
On allowable uses, panelists recommended counties take a "good faith estimate" approach for mixed programs (for example, funding a rehab program that treats multiple substances) and allocate an appropriate portion of costs to opioid settlement funds rather than declaring whole-program funding when services are not opioid-specific. The presenters repeated that county attorneys are the appropriate resource for legal questions about eligibility.
The webinar closed with presenters offering to circulate slides and links and encouraging counties to reach out with follow-up questions.
