The county moved with urgency to direct opioid settlement funds to help addicts. But subsequent disagreement highlights a tension between law enforcement and treatment that will likely be repeated statewide.
A landmark lawsuit settlement will pour $1.5 billion into Michigan, almost half of it directly to communities. But local governments have been slow to spend the money, and transparency questions dog efforts to fight the drug scourge.
Michigan is receiving about $1.5 billion over 18 years, with about $725 million going to cities and counties. Some will receive a larger share of opioid settlement, based on how hard they’ve been hit by the crisis.
Advocates slam ‘abysmal’ transparency surrounding opiods settlement in Michigan. Unlike many other states, Michigan set up few controls over how cities, counties spend their 50% share of the money.
Local officials say there are ‘sharks in the water,’ as companies pitching everything from $7,400 vending machines to $200,000 body scanners seek contracts from the opioid settlement money coming to Michigan.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiled an $80.7 billion spending proposal for the state’s next budget cycle, calling for a handful of initiatives centered around a 'Michigan Guarantee' of educational access and economic opportunities.
CMU President Bob Davies negotiated a contract shortly before announcing his retirement that pays him through at least 2026, including at least $500,000 in deferred compensation.
A Michigan lawmaker who sponsored an $18 million grant for a private housing project later received $15,000 in political contributions from the developer, according to an investigation by Bridge Michigan.
