At a Nevada legislative hearing, a debate unfolded over the allocation of opioid settlement funds amid budget shortfalls. Governor Joe Lombardo proposed redirecting $5 million to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to assist low-income families after previous funding expires in 2025. As federal pandemic relief wanes, states face financial pressures and are considering opioid settlement money, which has already amounted to over $10 billion in recent years. Recovery advocates caution against diverting these funds from addiction recovery programs for other purposes.
At a recent Nevada legislative committee hearing, lawmakers faced off with members of the governor's administration over how to fill gaping holes in the state's upcoming budget.
Recognizing both the need for and uptake of this assistance, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo's budget proposal directs $5 million in opioid settlement cash to shore up the program in the state's most populous counties, Clark and Washoe.
The prospect of such trade-offs is smacking many states in the face as they embark on budget season, with once-reliable federal funding now in question.
More than $10 billion has landed in state and local government coffers in recent years, but recovery advocates, family members, and public health experts express concerns over using opioid settlement money for other purposes.
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