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Ramsey County to bridge syringe services after state funding ends; staff seek long-term solutions
Summary
County staff told commissioners that state funding for the syringe services program ended in June 2026; the county will use settlement funds as one-year bridge funding while staff pursue longer-term sources and partnerships.
Ramsey County staff told the board that the county-operated syringe services program, opened in 2019, lost state funding in June 2026 and that settlement dollars will provide one-year bridge funding for 2026—2027.
Public health staff said the syringe services program is more than needle distribution: it includes wound care, testing, staffing and community outreach. "That amount that you're seeing, chair, is not just the syringe exchange component. That is...the whole program," a staff member said, describing staffing and clinical supports the program provides. Commissioners asked whether federal harm-mitigation dollars were affected and whether the county could find alternative funding streams for program continuity.
Presenters said the county will use settlement funds as temporary support while working with municipalities and other partners to identify sustainable options.
