The Auburn City Council has unanimously approved the acceptance and distribution of $28,348 in new opioid settlement funds, directing the money to local first responders and a nonprofit organization working to address addiction in the community.
The funding comes as part of ongoing legal settlements tied to the nationwide opioid crisis. In the resolution passed on Thursday, city leaders noted the epidemic has impacted thousands of residents in Auburn and Cayuga County, with families experiencing a wide range of harms related to substance abuse.
To pursue compensation, the city retained Napoli and Shkolnik, PLLC in 2019 and joined class action litigation against opioid manufacturers and distributors. Settlements reached with several defendants have resulted in periodic payments to municipalities, including Auburn, to support local recovery and prevention efforts.
Under the latest award, the money will be added to the city budget as state aid and distributed based on guidance from the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, which recommends that settlement funds be passed along to agencies providing services related to substance abuse and its effects.
The allocation includes $15,900 to the Auburn Police Department for software and services, $7,500 to the Auburn City Ambulance for equipment, and $4,948 to Nick’s Ride for Friends to support its community programs.
City officials said the funding will help offset the costs of emergency response, equipment, and local initiatives aimed at addressing addiction and supporting residents in crisis. Representatives from Nick’s Ride for Friends attended the meeting last Thursday as the resolution was approved.
