The Gary City Council is joining other local governments in opting back into a statewide opioid settlement agreement.
Gary Corporation Counsel Angela Lockett says the city opted out of a previous proposal because 70 percent of the money would've gone to the state, but a new state law changes the distribution formula. "The local unit is expected to receive unrestricted funds via wire transfer from the state. . . . Thirty-five percent is set aside for opioid use treatment, education or prevention, with 15 percent being used as we so choose," Lockett told the city council during a special meeting Wednesday.
She says Gary is expected to get almost $1.4 million over the next 18 years and another $321,000 over the next nine years, after attorney fees. The city would also be eligible to get funds from other opioid manufacturers and distributors that may be found liable in the future.
Council President William Godwin says he'd love to see the money come to Gary. "Opioid abuse used to be categorized as a rural problem, but we know that's not true. It very much has impacted urban America, as well as African-American and Latino communities," Godwin said during Wednesday meeting.
Hammond and Porter County also recently opted back in to the settlement agreement, following the change to the state's distribution formula.
