Update: Late Monday night, Albuquerque City Councilors passed a resolution outlining how they plan to use the money our area is receiving in a settlement with opioid manufacturers.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — More than 15 people spoke up about the Joint Opioid Settlement Implementation Plan in Monday’s city council meeting. A total of $150 million from opioid manufacturers is headed to the metro over 16 years. Bernalillo County is receiving $70 million and the City of Albuquerque is receiving the other $80 million.

According to Mayor Tim Keller’s Administration, the city has received about $30 million so far. Over the next 13 years, it will receive the other $50 million. $10 million is already spoken for, with half of that going to building pallet homes.

For the past year and a half, Albuquerque City Council has worked with the Local Government Coordinating Commission (LGCC) and the community to figure out how to best spend the rest of the money. The LGCC is made up of several entities like Bernalillo County, Albuquerque Public Schools and more.

Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn says there’s also been a lot of input from the community.

“We’ve heard from the community, which is, take care of our nonprofits, take care of our kids, and then provide a large amount of money to the administration to provide whatever services are needed from there,” Fiebelkorn said.

Here’s how the money in the Opioid Settlement Implementation Plan would break down:

• $10 million to local non-profits currently providing services
• $2 million to smaller and medium-sized service providers
• $1.8 million to Albuquerque Public Schools’ Crossroads program which helps with prevention and intervention
• Of the rest:
  • 60% would need to go towards treatment
  • 40% required to go to prevention

Albuquerque Fire Rescue Chief Emily Jaramillo says she just wants to see the money get put to use as soon as possible.

“We literally need to get that help to people right now, and we have that framework built up, and now we need to, like, get it over the finish line. We’ve got to get that the staffing up and running. And without funding going to staffing, it has to come from somewhere,” Jaramillo said.

In the past week, there has been a lot of back and forth and input from the council, Mayor Keller’s Administration, the Albuquerque Police Department and AFR. Fiebelkorn believes it’s unproductive and just delays getting the money out to our community. 

“This is a big problem in our community, and continuing to come have conversations after a year and a half seems like a waste of time, and every time we continue this conversation, the longer we’re waiting to get money into the hands of those that are actually doing the work in our city to help,” Fiebelkorn said.

MORE:

• How should the opioid settlement money be used?
• Mayor proposes using opioid settlement money for addiction services