Buncombe County Commissioners Approve Grant for Medicated Assistance Treatment Program, Buncombe County Commissioners - TribPapers
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Buncombe County Commissioners Approve Grant for Medicated Assistance Treatment Program, Buncombe County Commissioners

Photo by Towfiq Barbhuiya.

Asheville – The Buncombe County Commissioners’ meeting had just begun. After going over formalities and explaining various rules to the public for the evening, Chair Brownie Newman moved on to the consent agenda. Following the customary practice, he asked if any commissioners had comments on the items and caught the eye of County Manager Avril Pinder. Pinder had wanted to add something to the agenda, and while she suggested discussing it later, Newman decided to handle it with the consent agenda.

County Manager Avril Pinder explains that, once again, the county received paperwork for a time-critical budget amendment too late to provide the public with adequate notice. Screenshot.
County Manager Avril Pinder explains that, once again, the county received paperwork for a time-critical budget amendment too late to provide the public with adequate notice. Screenshot.

Grant Approval for Medicated Assistance Treatment (MAT) Program

Pinder explained that the commissioners needed to approve a grant for the sheriff’s office to support the Medicated Assistance Treatment (MAT) program at the detention facility. MAT is one element of harm reduction, which also includes government-funded programs like drug assaying to prevent accidental fentanyl overdoses, syringe exchanges for clean needles, and naloxone distribution to combat overdoses.

Benefits and Criticisms of MAT

MAT involves substituting opioids with opioid agonists that provide a longer-lasting and milder buzz compared to popular street drugs. The drugs are administered in clinical environments under the supervision of physical and mental health providers. Advocates argue that controlled administration of opioid agonists improves health, social outcomes, and reduces healthcare, social services, and public safety expenses. Detractors argue that expanding access to dangerous substances could lead to increased experimentation and addiction.

The county has been receiving the grant for three years, covering the period from September 30, 2022, to June 30, 2023. Pinder clarified that the grant is for work already completed. The commissioners needed to approve the grant receipt at the present meeting due to recently receiving the necessary documents to add it to the annual budget. Newman requested more information, and Pinder stated that the allocation totaled $120,614, deferring to John Hudson, the budget director for the county, for additional details.

Hudson explained that the funds were received through VAYA and would be used to reimburse general fund expenditures. However, the grant cycle does not align with the fiscal years of VAYA and the county, so disbursement for the remaining three months will occur next year. The commissioners still needed to vote on the item within the current fiscal year, and the ongoing meeting was their last formal opportunity before the June 30 deadline.

The commissioners agreed to add the item to the consent agenda. Newman requested staff to prepare documentation, and Hudson assured them, “We’ll have an ordinance for you to sign.” The online-posted ordinance clarified that the funds were State Opioid Response (SOR) dollars disbursed by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to VAYA.

During former county manager Wanda Greene’s tenure, last-minute budget amendments were frequently added to commissioner agendas. Under then-interim county manager George Wood’s leadership, Mountain Housing Opportunities faced criticism for requesting critical funding at the last meeting before their deadline. While acknowledging past practices, the public was assured of changes being implemented.

Although people tend to focus more on increasing expenditures than revenues, there were no objections from those in power regarding bending the rules. However, some members of the public may have had concerns. Publishing public meeting agendas in advance allows individuals with specialized knowledge to contribute to decision-making.

As a recurring problem, commissioners often approve items initially or conceptually, but when subsequent approvals are required by law, they treat the initial approval as a rubber stamp mandate instead of an opportunity for midcourse corrections. The SOR funding was initially approved in 2020, leading citizens to assume smooth progress without doubting any deviations.