KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners will talk about investing millions to work in a different way to fight substance abuse this week.
Billions in opioid settlement dollars have already started rolling in from companies that manufactured and distributed oxycodon and other addictive painkillers responsible for causing thousands of deaths.
Kalamazoo County’s share could be $16.4 million or more, paid out over the next decade.
A task force plan has been proposed to invest about $950,000 a year on prevention and treatment programs. But county officials say the question is what to do with the unspent money until it’s needed.
Deputy Administrator Lyndi Smith says, “The task force is recommending we invest those remaining funds with the Treasurer’s office, and that any interest that is earned be returned to the opioid settlement dollars.”
The task force wants in invested separately, so it can more easily be rolled back into drug programs.
County Commission Vice Chair John Taylor supports that proposal, but would like more details on how that would roll out. “In order for this board to make an effective decision, we would need to see what the long term financials are, and when the expiration date of this program would be, with current funding levels.”
Vice Chair Pro Tem Jeff Heppler, who also sat on the task force, says those are decisions the county board has to make.
County commissioners are expected to get a report from the Kalamazoo County Treasurer on their options at Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.
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