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Oneida County approves two behavioral health therapist positions; onboarding partly funded with Opioid Settlement dollars
Summary
On a consent agenda vote April 21, the Oneida County Board approved creating two full‑time Behavioral Health Therapist positions to reduce waitlists; Forest and Vilas counties will cover 20% and 30% of onboarding costs, with Oneida covering 50% ($43,980) from Opioid Settlement funds for a six‑month onboarding period. Ongoing costs are expected to be covered by billable services.
The Oneida County Board approved, as part of its consent agenda April 21, the creation of two full‑time Behavioral Health Therapist positions in the Department of Human Services to address growing demand and waitlists for outpatient mental‑health services across Forest, Vilas and Oneida counties.
Per the resolutions (29 and 30), the two positions have a cost of $117,280 each, for a combined annual total of $234,560. The estimated six‑month onboarding cost for the positions is $87,960. Forest County agreed to fund 20% of onboarding costs and Vilas County 30%; Oneida County’s share for the six‑month onboarding period is $43,980, to be paid from Opioid Settlement funds. The county’s Finance Director reported an available Opioid Settlement balance of $819,224.84 as of Feb. 28, 2026.
The resolution states the positions are expected to become self‑sustaining through billable client services and will require no county tax levy once the onboarding period concludes. The Human Services Committee and the Executive Committee reviewed and recommended the request before it reached the full board. The consent agenda containing these resolutions was adopted by roll call (20 Aye; 1 Absent, Showalter).
Board materials attached a fiscal impact statement and noted that the human services residential care center budget had experienced significant pressure statewide because of increasing court‑ordered out‑of‑home placements; the new positions were presented as one measure to expand services and reduce reliance on higher‑cost crisis interventions.
