Wood County, cities to share in opioid settlement funds

Posted 6/3/20

In an agreement reached last Thursday with the state government and local entities, Wood County and its cities learned how a pending settlement in the ongoing opioid lawsuit would benefit them financially.

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Wood County, cities to share in opioid settlement funds

Posted

In an agreement reached last Thursday with the state government and local entities, Wood County and its cities learned how a pending settlement in the ongoing opioid lawsuit would benefit them financially.

The manufacturers of opioids have been sued by Texas and other states over the damages caused by the highly-addictive painkillers.

Under the plan, for every $1 billion in settlement funds, 15% would go to cities and counties, 15% to the state and 70% to regional health districts.

The districts’ use of the funds would be governed by the Texas Opioid Council, drawn from a range of citizens.

The money would be targeted to education, prevention and treatment.

Of that $150 million of the money going to cities and counties (out of $1 billion), Wood County would receive $267,048 and the six cities $106,329, with Mineola receiving $48,719, Quitman $15,619, Winnsboro $28,791, Hawkins $7,932, Alba $3,196 and Yantis $2,072.

The 30 counties of Region One, including Wood County, would receive $38,223,336.

Wood County Judge Lucy Hebron is pleased with the agreement.

“We in the county have been monitoring the progress of the litigation ever since the county decided to join in the lawsuit,” she said.

“I was actually present at the commissioners court meeting when the court heard the initial presentation and voted to join in the litigation. It is nice to see a positive outcome in a relative short period of time.

“The agreement and the settlement for Wood County will be the first step in addressing some of the financial and other effects we have experienced as a community due to this destructive crisis. All areas in our community have been affected, from healthcare, education, public safety, our court system, our families and the whole community has been impacted because of opioids.  This agreement will allow us to move forward and help address some of the issues.”