title
Commissioner Keigher - DHHS - Health Division - To Amend Approved Resolution to Direct the Expenditure of Opioid Settlement Funds to Increase the Project by $237,946.84 and Appropriate the Corrected Amount for Year 2 of $389,509.68 (Year 1: 516,815.16 / Year 2: $389,509.68 / Total Project: $906,324.84)
body
STAFF CONTACT
Abigail Newton - Assistant Public Health Director - DHHS - Public Health Division - 704-853-5103
BUDGET IMPACT
budget
Opioid Settlement Fund:
FY26 Decrease revenue and expense $314,126.00. No additional County funds.
FY27 Increase revenue and expense $389,509.68. No additional County funds.
body
BACKGROUND
The State of NC joined in the national litigation against pharmaceutical supply chain participants who engaged in the manufacture, marketing, promotion, distribution, or dispensing of opioid medications that have harmed the public. On June 8, 2021, the Board of Commissioners approved the Memorandum of Agreement Between the State of North Carolina and Local Governments on Proceeds Relating to the Settlement of Opioid Litigation (Res. 2021-172) joining in the national litigation. Gaston County was awarded $40,520,354.00 in settlement funds to be received over a period of 18 years. To date the County has received $14 million in settlement funds.
This Board Action, if approved, will recognize an additional $237,946.84 to raise the total project budget from $668,378.00 to $906,324.84. Prior Board Action 2025-155 appropriated original budget totaling $668,378.00. Board Action 2026-159, moved funds between year 1 and year 2; adding $162,563.16 to year 1, but did not increase the total project budget by $237,946.84 to $906,324.84. However, a BCR was done in Munis to appropriate the new year 1 amount instead of the difference which increased the budget in Munis to $830,941.16. This Board Action corrects year 1 to the intended budget of $516,815.16 by reducing the FY26 appropriation by $314,126.00. This Board Action also recognizes the increase to the project of $237,946.84 to increase the project budget to $906,324.84 and appropriates the correct amount of $389,509.68 in FY27. This is approved by the Opioid Settlement Team.
FY26 Approved Budget (Year 1): $516,815.16
FY27 Approved Budget (Year 2): $389,509.68
Total Project Budget: $906,324.84
The continuation of Gaston County Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Scholarship fund (GCMATS). The GCMATS program was developed and implemented by McLeod Centers for Wellbeing and provides Gaston County’s uninsured/ underinsured residents with the opportunity to receive Evidence-Based Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder along with care navigation to address social determinants of health that may impact a patient's recovery, the most important among these being financial insecurity.
This Board Action also allows for any unspent funds as of June 30, 2027, to be returned to fund balance.
Total New Budget: $906,324.84
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
Spending Authorization Resolution and Budget Change Request (BCR)