Commission approves split funding for opioid programs; health dept. and recovery court allocations adjusted

During a budget work session, Britney Phillips, budget and finance officer, presented updated fiscal materials and the commission considered requests for opioid settlement funds to support two positions: one for opioid education in the health department and one for a recovery-court position in community corrections.

Phillips explained the requests and revenue projections; commissioners debated how much to cover from the opioid fund versus department reserves. After discussion and an offer from human-resources leadership that the health department could use reserves to cover part of the request, a commissioner moved and the board approved covering 50% of the health department request and 75% of the community corrections request. A commissioner made the motion on the record: "I'll make a motion that we approve the opioid funding for 50% of health department request and 75% of corrections request." The board adopted that motion by voice vote.

Staff said they will continue pursuing grants and other outside sources to sustain programs and that any reduction in opioid-fund support would require departments to adjust budgets or identify alternative revenue.