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By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque families could soon see $5.2 million in opioid settlement money go toward addiction treatment, recovery housing and school prevention programs. But the City Council voted not to extend Monday’s meeting, leaving no time for a final vote on the proposal and leaving the funding unresolved.
During the meeting, councilors discussed Resolution R-26-69, sponsored by Councilor Nichole Rogers, which was the last agenda item of the night. The $5.2 million proposal would put $2 million toward treatment navigation at the Gateway System of Care, $1.4 million to keep the Medical Sobering Center open, $300,000 toward recovery housing and $1.5 million for Albuquerque Public Schools’ school-based prevention program.
Before the meeting ended, councilors questioned the proposal’s funding and long-term sustainability. Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn said the $2 million Gateway allocation, $1.4 million for the Medical Sobering Center and $300,000 for recovery housing total $3.7 million in recurring costs, which she said exceeds the $2.35 million annual limit in Resolution R-25-128. She also questioned whether the proposal meets the resolution’s requirement that 40% of settlement funds go toward prevention and community revitalization. The resolution says the Gateway funding is new and is not intended to count toward the recurring limit.
Chief Administrative Officer Samantha Sengel and Health, Housing and Homelessness Director Gilbert Ramirez said the $1.4 million for the Medical Sobering Center is needed to keep it open after its federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant expired. They said the city is seeking three years of state funding, Medicaid reimbursements and private health-plan investments to help sustain the services while expanding treatment capacity without replacing general fund dollars.
Councilor Stephanie Telles questioned whether settlement funds were replacing general fund support and asked about differences between financial software totals and the public dashboard. Ramirez said the funding would expand service capacity rather than replace general fund dollars. Councilor Renee Grout asked how the $2 million Gateway allocation would be used. The administration said the money would expand treatment navigation through four contracted providers: Chicanos Por La Causa, Youth Development Inc., Horizons and Community Bridges.
The administration was still explaining the Gateway funding and its treatment-navigation services when the council’s meeting ended, cutting off the discussion mid-explanation. The council will take up the opioid settlement funding at a future meeting. The $5.2 million cannot be appropriated until councilors approve the resolution. Residents can submit public comments online or contact their City Councilor before the next vote, scheduled for Oct. 19.