Winona County board approves $60,000 in opioid settlement funds for RAP Plus reentry services

Winona County commissioners voted unanimously to approve allocating $60,000 in opioid settlement money to the county’s RAP Plus reentry program, a jail‑based set of substance‑use and mental‑health interventions intended to reduce recidivism.

The motion followed a lengthy exchange in which Commissioner Ward warned the board about the risk of supplanting existing funding with one‑time settlement dollars. "I'm concerned about what we're doing here with opioid funds," Ward said, citing guidance in the national opioid settlement ("Exhibit E") that prioritizes new prevention, treatment and recovery services and discourages using settlement proceeds to replace existing funding. He asked whether the county’s planned use would appear allowable on Minnesota’s public dashboard and whether the choice could invite future audit scrutiny.

County Attorney Sonoman (transcript spelling) responded that RAP addresses chemical dependency and co‑occurring mental‑health conditions and that the $60,000 request is aimed at early intervention in the jail where other funding streams are limited. "RAP doesn't just cover people who have chemical dependency. It includes substance‑abuse and the important mental‑health evaluation part," Sonoman said, arguing that the county’s RAP program is an effective existing intervention that expansion funding can strengthen.

Board discussion also emphasized program metrics and sustainability. Commissioners asked staff for an evaluation and for the substance‑use treatment outcome data referenced in the board packet; Commissioner Ward and others requested the evaluation materials be provided following the meeting so the board can judge effectiveness and future funding choices.

The board recorded the motion, then opened public discussion among commissioners and staff before taking the vote. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioners asked finance and administration staff to report back on program outcomes and to document how the expenditure aligns with the settlement’s allowable uses.

The action is intended as a one‑time infusion to sustain an active program that county leaders say provides substantial community benefit; commissioners flagged the need to avoid creating an ongoing obligation that must be sustained after settlement dollars run out.

What’s next: Staff will provide the RAP program evaluation and detailed budgeting information requested by commissioners; the board also directed staff to confirm the expenditure’s alignment with the settlement exhibit and Minnesota’s tracking dashboard.