Polk County names RAC delegate for opioid settlement region and adopts FY2024 opioid budget

Polk County commissioners voted March 5 to appoint Commissioner Ray Carter as the county’s voting delegate to the Region 1 Regional Advisory Council (RAC) that will help allocate regional shares of Georgia’s opioid settlement funds.

County staff summarized the settlement framework: the State of Georgia will receive $638 million over 18 years from national opioid settlements; the state’s share is 75% ($479 million), and 40% of the state share — about $191.6 million — is required to be spent on a regional basis. The Memorandum of Understanding establishing the Georgia Opioid Settlement Advisory Commission (GOSAC) and Regional Advisory Councils will guide regional allocations.

Commissioner Gary Martin moved to appoint Commissioner Ray Carter as Polk County’s voting delegate; Commissioner Linda Liles seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Separately, the board approved a proposed resolution establishing an FY2024 budget for Opioid Funds after Commissioner Jordan Hubbard moved for approval and Commissioner Ray Carter seconded; that motion also passed unanimously.

The minutes indicate the state will coordinate a process for Participating Local Governments to approve GOSAC members and RAC membership; Polk County is listed as a Participating Local Government and will engage in the regional allocation process.