Advocate urges strict stewardship of opioid settlement funds; staff clarifies separate HUD grant

Maureen Killian, president of Southeast Florida Recovery Advocates, urged the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners to ensure opioid settlement funds are used only for prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction and that advisory-board recommendations and statutory guardrails are followed.

"Opioid settlement funds are not passed-through dollars. Stewardship is required. Responsibility, outcomes, liability, and adherence to Florida Statute 17 42 must not disappear once money is dispersed," Killian said during public comment.

Commissioner Weiss and purchasing staff responded that the consent agenda item Killian had addressed (item 3E2) is a $30,000 grant from HUD and not opioid settlement dollars. Commissioner Weiss said item 3E1 and item 62 would contain different revenue and expenditure treatments and that the specific opioid settlement expenditure item would be heard later in the meeting under item 62.

"That is a $30,000 grant from HUD; this is not opioid settlement dollars that are involved in that item," Commissioner Weiss said to clarify the public record.

Killian asked the board to ensure transparency and accountability for settlement dollars, and staff and commissioners acknowledged the separate agenda line for opioid-related expenditures and that oversight is required.