The head of the Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors is proposing a new task force.
In a statement to Seehafer News, Board Chairman Tyler Martel announced that he is looking to create an Opioid Settlement Task Force.
Martel explained that the County is set to receive nearly $6 million from a series of nationwide settlements with manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of opioid pharmaceuticals, and the task force would help ensure the proper use of the funds.
While recent budgets have allocated between $250,000 and $300,000 to the Human Services Department each year, Martel called that plan short-sighted.
He stated, “Because of our budget challenges, some may be tempted to use these funds to plug budget holes. But we can utilize this task force to find more creative ways to reduce the need for Human Services in the first place.”
The Department is currently in the midst of a multi-million dollar deficit, for which County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer is taking the blame.
Martell will officially introduce the Opioid Settlement Task Force during Monday’s meeting, and he believes it is “an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.”
