TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — At its meeting on Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court was expected to vote on several measures to move them forward.
Here are three things to know.
1. Opioid settlement money
Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the allocation of opioid settlement money from the State of Texas.
Over the next 18 years, Texas will get $1.6 billion in abatement from the opioid crisis. The money comes from lawsuits involving distributors for their role in the crisis. CVS, Walgreens and Walmart all made settlement agreements with the State.
In 2023, the City of Austin received $1.47 million to disperse. The Travis County Health and Human Services department recently provided a plan for where that money should go, and on Tuesday, commissioners showed their support for that plan.
"I'm very supportive of continuing this. I don't know of anyone that wants to discontinue this. There's a clear need, and we have the funds," Commissioner Brigid Shea (Precinct 2) said.
Proposals for the fund allocation were approved that give up to $175,000 for Narcan distribution over one year. The rest of the funds will be allocated for methadone treatment and peer support groups.
2. Palm School Steering Committee
Commissioners were also expected to discuss the next steps for creating the Palm School Steering Committee, which will decide what to do with the historic building in Downtown Austin.
The Palm School opened in 1892 and was the first public school in Austin to have kindergarten classes. The school closed in the 1970s, and the building served as a community center until it closed in 2020.
Travis County staff is working to extend Palm School Steering Committee applications through Aug. 18.
3. Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse
Commissioners were also expected to touch on the next steps for the Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse restoration project.
Travis County has owned the Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse building since it was constructed in 1931. The County began renovations in 2019 – just in time for the COVID-19 pandemic to halt construction. Now, three years later, the next steps are again up for discussion.