Delaware County authorized to join additional national opioid settlement; local allocation estimated around $20k–$25k

The Delaware County Board of Commissioners voted March 19 to authorize the county administrator to execute a participation form for a new national opioid settlement covering additional distributors, county staff said.

Eric Hostettler, who briefed the board on the litigation and settlement mechanics, said this settlement provides a direct allocation to local jurisdictions rather than routing all funds through a statewide mechanism. "This is a separate settlement with direct allocation to local jurisdictions and this resolution will approve that settlement and authorize the county administrator to sign the settlement participation form," Hostettler said.

When asked about likely amounts, Hostettler said staff do not yet have final allocations and that totals depend on full participation by eligible entities, but offered an estimate: "I think it's somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000 to $25,000," he said. Staff added that participation in the settlement required meeting a population threshold, and county officials believed only the county and the city of Delaware in the county met that threshold.

The board voted to approve resolution 26-189 authorizing participation and delegation to the county administrator to sign the required form.

What this means: If Delaware County completes the participation paperwork, the county will be eligible to receive a direct share from this tranche of the national opioid settlements. County staff stressed the allocation is approximate and depends on formulaic distribution and the number of participating jurisdictions.

Next steps: County staff will complete participation paperwork and report back when final allocation amounts are known.