There won’t be an opioid task force created for the Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors.
Board Chairman Tyler Martell announced on Facebook that he is “disappointed” after not being able to convince two other members on the County Executive Committee or County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer to create the Opioid Settlement Task Force.
In a previous announcement, Martell explained to Seehafer News that the task force would have helped ensure that $6 million in a series of nationwide settlements would be used to not plug holes in the Human Services budget but reduce the need for the department in the first place.
Ziegelbauer said in a letter to the Executive Committee that the task force will not help the citizens of Manitowoc and will create an expectation of “new non-mandated programs.”
Ziegelbauer also mentions how the county has already increased expenses in the Human Services Department to make up for the increased need for services.
Martell says he will bring the resolution up again and will work to build support of a conversation about the opioid crisis on the County Board.
The Manitowoc County Human Services Department is facing a possible $6 million shortfall because of the increase in need and inflation.
The County Board of Supervisors has until September 1st to decide before the 2025 budget about what they will do to fix the deficit.
