REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 19, 2025
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Revision to the Opioid Settlement Expenditure Plan
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve the revision to the County Opioid Settlement Funding Expenditure Plan, increasing the amount for 2025-26 by $1,101,534, from $23,249,532 to $24,351,066, to address the opioid epidemic within the county.
2. Authorize the addition of two positions to assist with the Targeted Overdose Prevention and Outreach Initiative for the Department of Behavioral Health, under the following classifications:
a. One Mental Health Clinic Supervisor, Supervisory Unit, Range 70C ($101,546-$139,880)
b. One Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Administrative Services Unit, Range 43 ($51,563-$70,949)
(Presenter: Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health, and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The 2025-26 County Opioid Settlement Funding Expenditure Plan, totaling $24,351,066, will assist in addressing the opioid epidemic within the county and will be funded by multiple settlements received from pharmaceutical companies for their involvement in the opioid crisis across the country. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the County’s 2025-26 Recommended Budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The County has been a party to several settlements against pharmaceutical companies for their involvement in the opioid crisis nationwide. To date, the County has secured $34,577,271 in settlement funds and anticipates receiving additional funding currently spread over an estimated 18-year period to be used to combat the effects of the opioid crisis.
To continue to effectively address the opioid crisis within the county, the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), Department of Public Health (DPH), the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s Department (Sheriff), and Human Services Administration (HSA) are requesting a revision to the previously approved County Opioid Settlement Funding Expenditure Plan and to allocate $24,351,066 in available opioid settlement funding toward the following strategic initiatives:
|
Department |
Initiative |
Type |
2024-25 Approved Total |
2025-26 Revised Total |
Total Adjustment |
|
DBH |
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Services Initiative |
On-going |
$5,218,083 |
$6,651,555 |
$1,433,472 |
|
DBH |
SUD Withdrawal Management/Residential Facility Infrastructure Support |
One-Time |
$14,116,519 |
$14,115,519 |
($1,000) |
|
DPH |
Opioid Response Initiative |
On-going |
$2,839,930 |
$2,008,992 |
($830,938) |
|
Sheriff |
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program |
Two-year |
$1,000,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$500,000 |
|
HSA |
Administrative Support and Oversight |
On-going |
$75,000 |
$75,000 |
$0 |
|
Total |
$23,249,532 |
$24,351,066 |
$1,101,534 |
The increase of $1,433,472 to DBH’s SUD Services Initiative includes the new Recovery Residence Expansion ($487,819) project. This new project is a tool to help support an individual’s journey to recovery. The funding will increase the capacity of supportive Recovery Housing in the county by offering an estimated 100 unduplicated individuals annually a supportive recovery-centered transitional housing option while engaging in treatment services.
The Targeted Overdose Prevention and Outreach Program, also included in DBH’s SUD Services Initiative, will be receiving an increase of $945,653. DBH is requesting to add two new positions. One Mental Health Clinic Supervisor ($139,880) will provide administrative oversight and clinical implementation of the program, and one Alcohol and Drug Counselor ($70,949) will be responsible for responding to community referrals, conducting outreach to individuals referred by the court, and providing education screenings and referrals for treatment. Also included in this increase is the opioid advertising campaign and prevention materials budget ($734,824), which was previously part of DPH’s Opioid Response Initiative, Friday Night Live (FNL).
The Sheriff’s request to increase their opioid budget by $500,000 will allow for expansion of the MAT program, including establishing a contract with a community provider to better meet the needs of the incarcerated population. The MAT program provides medication and case management services to incarcerated individuals experiencing opioid use disorders. In addition, the funding will help improve compliance with legal mandates, improve health outcomes, and enhance public safety by reducing recidivism related to opioid use disorders.
On July 11, 2023 (Item No. 21), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the County Opioid Settlement Funding Expenditure Plan allocating $23,500,000 in available opioid settlement funding toward the following three strategic initiatives: DBH’s SUD Services Initiative ($2,100,000), DPH’s Opioid Response Initiative ($1,400,000), and DBH’s SUD Withdrawal Management/Residential Facility Infrastructure Support ($20,000,000).
On July 23, 2024 (Item No. 27), the Board approved a revision to the County Opioid Settlement Funding Expenditure Plan allocating $21,209,602 in available opioid settlement funding toward the following three strategic initiatives: DBH’s SUD Services Initiative ($5,218,083), DPH’s Opioid Response Initiative ($1,542,000), and DBH’s SUD Withdrawal Management/Residential Facility Infrastructure Support ($14,116,519).
On January 14, 2025 (Item No. 29), the Board approved the revision to the County Opioid Settlement Funding Expenditure Plan allocating $1,039,930 in available opioid settlement funds toward the addition of three positions: two Health Education Specialist I positions and one Public Health Program Coordinator position to support the DPH FNL initiative ($964,930), and a $75,000 increase was requested by HSA to provide administrative support and oversight.
On May 6, 2025 (Item No. 11), the Board approved the 2024-25 Budget Adjustments for increased hospital expenses for Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, the addition of the Sheriff’s MAT Services Initiative to the Opioid Settlement Funding Expenditure Plan, and an increased amount of $1,000,000 from $22,249,532 to $23,249,532 to support the Sheriff’s MAT Services Initiative.
Due to the extensive review that took place, this request to the Board was postponed to the August 19, 2025, Board meeting. Delaying the approval of or postponing this item to a future Board date will result in further delays in recruitment and the implementation of new services for individuals and families affected by the opioid crisis.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Charles Phan, Supervising Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 5, 2025; Behavioral Health (Jennifer Alsina, Assistant Director, 388-0808) on July 18, 2025; Public Health (Janki Patel, Assistant Director, 387-9146) on July 18, 2025; Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator (Carolina Mendoza, Chief Deputy Director, 387-0640) on July 17, 2025; Human Resources (Gina King, Assistant Director, 387-5560) on July 29, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Chris Lange, Deputy Director, 386-8393) on July 24, 2025.