Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
31 <br /> 1 PUBLIC COMMENTS: <br /> 2 There was no one signed up to speak. <br /> 3 <br /> 4 A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to <br /> 5 close the public hearing. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 8 <br /> 9 A motion was made by Vice-Chair Hamilton, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to adopt <br /> 10 the resolution supporting the application to the Local Government Commission for approval of the <br /> 11 financing. <br /> 12 <br /> 13 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 14 <br /> 15 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked what the strategy is for offering more collateral than <br /> 16 what is required. <br /> 17 Gary Donaldson said 50% is the threshold for the test. He said there is a bond financing <br /> 18 of $80 million, so the test is having collateral of $40 million. He said there is more than enough <br /> 19 capacity. <br /> 20 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if they are offering 100% of what they are borrowing <br /> 21 as collateral. <br /> 22 Gary Donaldson said the collateral package is $160 million but the test is 40%. He said <br /> 23 that he is showing the collateral package and that includes prior debt. <br /> 24 Chair Bedford said that it includes private debt. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 6. Regular Agenda <br /> 27 a. Opioid Advisory Committee Settlement Fund Use Recommendations <br /> 28 The Board received an update on the Opioid Advisory Committee (OAC); received OAC <br /> 29 recommendations for use of Opioid Settlement Funds that support Option A of the NC <br /> 30 Memorandum of Agreement on the Allocation and Use of Opioid Settlement Funds in North <br /> 31 Carolina; and directed staff to present a final spending authorization resolution at the Board's May <br /> 32 20, 2025, Business meeting. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 BACKGROUND: In July 2021, a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general announced the <br /> 35 National Opioid Settlement — a historic agreement that provides desperately needed help to <br /> 36 communities harmed by the opioid epidemic. The State of North Carolina and all 100 counties, <br /> 37 including Orange County, joined the agreement. North Carolina is receiving $1,420,932,713 in <br /> 38 opioid settlement funds from 2022 through 2038. Orange County is expected to receive <br /> 39 $12,748,445 over an 18-year period. <br /> 40 In September 2022, the BOCC approved the appointment of the Orange County Opioid Advisory <br /> 41 Committee with the following charge: <br /> 42 • Discuss opioid-related health concerns and issues impacting the residents of Orange <br /> 43 County. <br /> 44 • Advise the Board of Commissioners on options to expend funds to prevent opioid abuse <br /> 45 and remedy opioid impacts. <br /> 46 • Plan and host an annual meeting open to the public to receive input on proposed uses of <br /> 47 the settlement funds and to encourage collaboration between local governments. <br /> 48 The Board also voted to follow Option A for the use of the settlement funds per the NC <br /> 49 Memorandum of Agreement Opioid Settlement. Between Summer 2022 and Summer 2024, <br /> 50 Orange County spent $376,438 to address eight (8) of the following Option A Strategies: <br /> 51 • Collaborative Strategic Planning <br />