Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA brings to light the complex issues surrounding Pennsylvania's opioid settlement funds. As local governments prepare to receive additional funds to combat the opioid epidemic, some counties are at odds with a state oversight board over spending decisions. This article delves into the details of these disputes and their implications.

Unraveling the Opioid Settlement Spending Battles in Pennsylvania

Local Government vs. State Oversight Board

In Harrisburg, local governments are gearing up to receive around $247 million more to address the opioid crisis. However, some Pennsylvania counties are facing challenges as the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust board has the power to oversee the spending of potentially billions in opioid settlement money. This has led to disagreements over what spending is appropriate and how much discretion local governments should have.For example, Somerset County is challenging the trust's decision to reject a $30,000 youth program that provides weekly outdoor activities and mentorship. The county argues that the program complies with the settlement document and should be approved. On the other hand, Philadelphia is appealing the trust's decisions to reject millions of dollars for programs aimed at supporting residents in the Kensington area, which is considered the epicenter of the opioid crisis.The trust's use of private meetings to discuss spending has also drawn criticism. Philadelphia has alleged that board members expressed a preference for "‘just-say-no’ type strategies" during closed meetings. Somerset County's appeal also brought up the issue of private meetings, stating that they should be open to the public.

Trust's Distribution and Reporting

The trust on November 21 approved distributing the next round of opioid settlement funds, which now include money from multiple new companies. Counties and other local governments received their first payments in 2022 and are supposed to spend the money in accordance with Exhibit E, which describes approved and recommended strategies.Counties had to file their first comprehensive spending reports with the opioid trust in March. A recent court order clarified that other local government agencies receiving funds must also file these reports, addressing an ambiguity that had previously allowed some spending decisions to go unchecked.Trust members voted on a new batch of spending reports on November 21 and again rejected some programs from Philadelphia. Despite these rejections, trust chair Tom VanKirk highlighted the large number of approved programs.

Public Involvement and Transparency

Since the opioid trust formed in 2022, members have frequently met in secret and released limited information about spending. However, Spotlight PA has taken steps to provide greater public insight. The newsroom created an interactive database that allows the public to track spending decisions and whether they were approved. This has led to people in various parts of the state flagging issues and seeking clarity.Cathleen Palm, a Berks County resident, praised the transparency brought by the database, stating that it allows for a better understanding of community priorities.Before you go, if you learned something from this article, contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers committed to accountability journalism.