The Carroll County Board of Supervisors discussed the next steps for the opioid funding still available from the settlement of the opioid crisis. In 2022, the Attorney General’s Office signed new agreements with manufacturers, pharmaceutical distributors, and pharmacies on a $345 million settlement over five years to be distributed among counties for opioid prevention and treatment. Board Chairperson Stephanie Hausman says there is currently $277,627 in a certificate of deposit (CD) that earned 5.1 percent interest for seven months. Hausman says there are different options the supervisors can take with the remaining funding.
If kept in the checking account, the money would accrue 1.44 percent interest, but 4.5 percent interest if placed in another CD for five to six months. District 2 Supervisor Mike Andersen says placing it in another CD would accumulate more money and give the supervisors time to review proposals from organizations on how the money would be used. District 3 Supervisor Gene Meiners says he would like to start seeing the funding being spent for its specific intent.
The supervisors had heard presentations from organizations in previous meetings but were not sold on the plans as the best way to invest the money. Andersen says the real concern behind the proposals was not being able to sustain the funding for long-term use.
Andersen reports that St. Anthony Regional Hospital presented recently at a Carroll County Public Health meeting, informing that opioid usage is down in the county.
At the supervisors’ discretion, the money will be placed back into a CD for five months while they wait to hear organizations’ proposals to start distributing it for prevention programs.
