City participating in OhioOne Plan

Action by Council will allow city to receive settlement funds

Painesville City Council recently adopted a resolution to opt into the OneOhio opioid class action settlement against several large pharmaceutical companies, including AmerisourceBergen, McKesson and Cardinal Health for alleged involvement in the ongoing opioid epidemic.

Numerous municipalities and other political subdivisions within the state are also participating in the lawsuit, city officials noted.

In 2020, Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost launched the OneOhio Plan, a mechanism to distribute opioid litigation settlement funds to local governments.

The plan also outlines how funds can be used.

The state officials recently reached a settlement with the three companies, noted Painesville City Manager Doug Lewis.

According to the suit, the state of Ohio and the political subdivisions will receive up to $829 million over the next 18 years, with most of the money received being restricted in use and earmarked for abatement of the opioid epidemic.

The overall allocation for the city of Painesville is up to $166,916, which will be paid over the next 18 years.

Lewis said the city is guaranteed up to 55 percent of that sum ($5,100 annually), as long as payments continue to come in.

“The opioid crisis severely impacted Painesville, the police department and the fire department, given the number of runs and things of that nature, so this is basically payment for that,” he added.

“In agreeing with the settlement, the city would be reimbursed in accordance with the amounts stated.”

The payments will go into the city’s general fund, Lewis said.

Council’s legislation has been forwarded to Yost’s Office.

“We’re seeing some very positive movements here,” said Lake County Commissioner John Hamercheck, adding settlement funds will be strictly accounted for, alluding to an infamous occurrence of superfluous spending in Niagara County, New York, where funds from a tobacco lawsuit were used to purchase golf carts and portable radios, among other items.

According to DeWine’s Office, OneOhio ensures a settlement “….that recognizes that every corner of the state has been hit hard by the crisis, focusing on funding programs that address prevention, treatment and long-term recovery; criminal justice; and public awareness costs that promote the overall health and well-being of Ohioans.

“Equally important, the plan ensures that these funds are preserved and flexible over time as a way of helping the state combat the ever-evolving drug problem.”