To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Michelle Halstead, Director, Commissioners’ Office
Prepared By:
prepared
Kendra Davis, Management Analyst II, Commissioners’ Office
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Subject:
title
Authorization of Intergovernmental Agreement for Regional Opioid Council
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The Board of County Commissioners is requested to adopt a resolution authorizing the Chair to execute the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) for the regional opioid council with the County’s 13 municipalities.
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Background and Discussion: Recently, opioids settlements have been reached nationwide with the “Big 3” opioid distributors (McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen) and Johnson & Johnson to resolve claims by state and local governments that these companies contributed to the opioid epidemic. In 2021, the State of Colorado and Participating Local Governments executed the Colorado Opioids Summary Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that established the manner in which opioid funds were to be divided and distributed within the State of Colorado. The Board approved this MOU at their meeting on Oct. 26, 2021.
The Colorado MOU establishes specific parameters regarding the statewide allocation of settlement funds from the nationwide opioid litigation, which includes 20% directly to counties/municipalities that sign the MOU and 60% to regions of counties/municipalities (Arapahoe County will be its own single-county region). All settlement funds are required to be used for opioid abatement through prevention, treatment and harm reduction. In order to distribute these funds towards appropriate uses, each region will create its own “Regional Council” made up of the constituent local governments.
Arapahoe County has engaged with its thirteen municipalities to develop an IGA that establishes the composition of the regional council and governance structure. Per the requirements of the Colorado MOU, this council will develop a two-year plan that identifies how the Opioid Funds will be used and manage the distribution of funds in support of this plan. The IGA also designates Arapahoe County as the fiscal agent for receipt and distribution of these funds on behalf of the regional council.
Alternatives: The Board may decline approval of the IGA and participation in the Regional Council, which would negatively impact Arapahoe County’s ability to provide input on and benefit from these funding allocations.
Fiscal Impact: An RFP was issued in search of a consultant to facilitate the regional council, the full cost of which has not been determined. It is anticipated that this cost will be absorbed by the funds received as part of the settlement. There will be limited fiscal impact, as these are outside funds that will be distributed to regional efforts by the will of the regional council. As the fiscal agent, Arapahoe County may incur additional staff time in support of this.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☐Be fiscally sustainable
☒Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Concurrence: All of the thirteen municipalities in Arapahoe County reviewed the draft IGA and approved it for formal adoption.
Resolution: Attached is a copy of the draft resolution.