By John Pacenti
The Delray Beach City Commission is wrestling with how to spend $253,000 from a nationwide opioid settlement — and the steady stream of money expected from the settlement in the future.
After directing the city manager in July to form an advisory committee, the commission at a Sept. 10 workshop directed staff to recommend how the money will be allocated.
The committee proposal hasn’t been abandoned. It will presumably make recommendations in the future as the city continues to receive money from the $50 billion settlement.
Mayor Tom Carney said at the Aug. 19 commission meeting he needed more information on how the money could be used and proposed the workshop.
A thorny issue — and one South Florida addiction treatment advocates oppose — is whether municipalities can utilize settlement funds for programs already funded. The money supplanted would go back into the general fund and be used for issues other than addiction.
Vice Mayor Juli Casale has said commissioners should recommend to staff their thoughts on how the money should be spent. She reiterated her position at the workshop.
“Some of this is also about efficiency, and we keep on sitting up here and pushing our responsibilities off to committees when we’re the ultimate decider. It shouldn’t be this complicated,” she said.
Assistant City Manager Jeff Oris told commissioners he could get with city staff to recommend how to spend the money that is on hand. Simultaneously, he would create the advisory committee, which would include representatives from the police and fire departments and professionals.
Opioid manufacturers and distributors, such as Walgreens, reached the $50 billion settlement in January 2022. Palm Beach County’s portion is $122 million, of which $25 million has been distributed.
Casale said at the August meeting that Delray Beach has received $253,000 so far.
Lissa Franklin, executive director of the Delray Beach Drug Task Force, said she wants the money to be allocated to the Police Department’s C.A.R.E.S. — Community Advocacy Response Education Service — a program where a mental health expert reaches out to addicts on the street, offering resources.
She also said money for a grief counselor to help families navigate the loss of a loved one to addiction is badly needed.
“Whatever they decide needs to benefit not only the people who live along Ocean Boulevard but also the people who live within the Set,” said Franklin, referring to the historically Black community in the heart of Delray Beach.
Maureen Kielian chairs the Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse and Co-Occurring Disorders Advisory Committee for Palm Beach County. She said in June municipalities should allow the county to decide how the settlement money is used.
“It’s best if we put all of our money together to have the best outcomes and the most impactful changes in abating this epidemic,” she said. “Why would Palm Beach Gardens, for instance, want to open an ASU (Addiction Stabilization Unit)? They can’t afford to, whereas we could do it and service these folks.”
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