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SANTA CRUZ — Opioid settlements have already arrived in Santa Cruz County, with millions more expected to grow over the next few years, and local leaders will soon be able to address the ongoing public health crisis. Plans will be considered to distribute the funds in a combative manner.
The county Health Services Agency has developed a two-year spending plan for $900,000 in settlement funds that will be shared and recommended for approval at a 9 a.m. County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday at the county courthouse in Santa Cruz. I’m planning on doing it.
The funding is just a portion of the estimated $26 million the county will receive over 18 years from the settlement, which will reduce the impact of opioid overdoses through five broad measures, according to a staff report. It is said to be used for With assistance from the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, the two-year funding plan will distribute:
• 25% goes towards prevention activities.
• 33% will go to community-based organizations and contractors for treatment expansion with a view to novel and promising practices.
• 17% for administrative activities, data reporting, grant management, community outreach, communications activities, and staff support.
• 25% for capital projects.
County officials report that they have received $3.2 million of the settlement so far, with the remainder expected to arrive in two installments. The first round is estimated at $15 million within 18 years, the second round is expected to cost him $11 million within 15 years, and at least $800,000 annually.
The funds, which came from a series of national lawsuits in which the county also participated, came from numerous opioid manufacturers and distributors, including CVS, and resulted in more than $44 billion in 2019 and 2021, according to a staff report. It was almost settled. , Walgreens, Teva, Allergan and more. After nearly 645,000 people died nationwide from fentanyl and other opioid overdoses from 1999 to 2021, the original complaint alleges that county officials falsely marketed and illegally marketed opioids in a manner intended by the opioid industry. He wrote that it was claimed that there had been extensive advertising and dispensing. I knew they were dangerous, addictive, and susceptible to abuse.
According to the county sheriff’s coroner’s office, two fentanyl-related overdose deaths were reported in 2018, with a total of 20 in 2020, 42 in 2021 and 65 in 2022. It rapidly increased to .
The county is also working with the cities of Watsonville, Capitola, Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley, which will be required to request a pro rata share of the funds 60 days in advance of annual settlement payments to the county. A memorandum of understanding detailing the use and distribution of the settlement money negotiated by the county and city will also be shared with the board for approval or rejection.
To date, only the city of Santa Cruz has requested its share of the settlement funds directly from the state, which then funds the city’s programs, according to a staff report.
big basin wastewater
Tuesday’s board consent agenda, which typically passes on a single motion, also includes a proposal to include the Fallen Leaf area of Boulder Creek within the county’s boundaries to provide residents with more efficient and reliable sewer service. include. The district previously received wastewater service from Big Basin Water Company, but the 2020 CZU Lightning Facility fire severely damaged the treatment facility, ultimately posing a risk to public health. It happened.
A Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge ultimately appointed a trustee responsible for managing the wastewater system and consolidated 27 residential lots and Cal Fire facilities into CSA 7, an existing service area managed by the county. Plans to do so have been under consideration for many years. Time-bound solutions.
But even if the board approves the creation of the necessary subzones to include parcels, the staff report says the merger would include rate increases for customers, which would require a public hearing process. That would ultimately require a vote of approval by Congress. Owner of the parcel.
if you go
Contents: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Meeting.
When: 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Board Room, Room 525, 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz.
Method: In-person or Zoom: us06web.zoom.us/j/81732202363.
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