Berrien County will soon receive $4 million as a result of a settlement between several states and the makers of opioid painkillers. Speaking at a Thursday meeting, Berrien County Commissioner Bob Harrison said the task now is to decide how the funds will be used.
“Guy Miller, our health officer, is leading an initiative to bring together a number of different groups so there’s some sense of order in how best to use those dollars,” Harrison said.
Michigan is receiving $800 million from the settlement with multiple drug makers and the $4 million is Berrien County’s share. County Administrator Brian Dissette says it’s coming soon.
“The initial inflow of cash should be happening anytime within the coming days,” Dissette said. “We’ve set up a portal, we’ve provided for the wire transfer. This is one that it’s not going to be an immediate windfall. This is an 18 year payout, roughly about $4 million over an 18 year period.”
Miller has said the payout should be used for education, prevention, and treatment. He’s met with the sheriff, the prosecutor, the trial court administrator, and the public defender to discuss how the $4 million could be used to prevent addiction. A report will be coming to the county commission in the coming months.
