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County committee OKs consultant pitch to guide $23 million opioid‑settlement spending
Summary
CCR Consulting told Davidson County commissioners the county’s opioid death rate runs well above the state average and proposed an $80,000, data‑driven study and implementation plan to prioritize uses for roughly $23 million in settlement funds staggered over 18 years.
Davidson County’s opioid settlement advisory work took a step toward outside help on April 2 when CCR Consulting presented a data‑driven plan to identify gaps and recommend how to use the county’s roughly $23 million in opioid settlement funds over the coming 18 years.
Ben Milsap, a principal at CCR Consulting, told the Board of Commissioners and the county’s opioid committee that CCR would start with a needs‑and‑gaps assessment and move to prioritized recommendations, contract and procurement guidance, and help creating an opioid coordinator position responsible for long‑term sustainability. “We start with the data,” Milsap said. “We don’t come in with preconceived ideas…our goal is to help you make decisions that result in the most impactful care for the folks of Davidson County.”
The county’s opioid committee had previously highlighted local overdose statistics and expressed caution about spending the money without clear, measurable outcomes. Commissioners and staff discussed the mortality rates and outcome metrics at length; one commissioner said the local overdose death rate is roughly two and one‑half times the state average and urged the committee to prioritize prevention as well as treatment.
CCR proposed an eight‑to‑nine month engagement at a cost of about $80,000 that would deliver a gap analysis, prioritized funding recommendations, staffing guidance for a permanent coordinator role, and suggested short‑term “early wins” that could demonstrate impact quickly. Milsap said the firm would present measurable recommendations so the board could track return on investment.
Commissioners pressed on reporting cadence and legal and fiscal compliance. County Manager Casey Smith confirmed the consultant would coordinate reports through county staff and the opioid committee. The board directed staff to move the consultant engagement forward for placement on a consent agenda at a later meeting for final approval.
Why it matters: Davidson County expects settlement receipts over many years. Commissioners said they want to avoid funding programs that are not sustainable or that lack measurable outcomes. The consultant’s proposal is aimed at turning one‑time settlement dollars into long‑term, evidence‑based services that reduce overdose deaths and keep people in ongoing treatment.
What’s next: Staff said the CCR proposal would return on the consent agenda for formal approval and the consultant would report regularly to the county manager and the opioid committee if retained.
