Michael ~ OIIIIIIO ~

A video showed the community center’s efforts to address the opioid crisis in Floyd County. Here’s the actual data from the Judge-Executive’s numbers: - Overdose deaths in 2018: 11 - Overdose deaths in 2025: 21 Kentucky’s overdose rate dropped 22.9% last year to its lowest since 2014, while Floyd’s rate was 55.6 per 100K, more than double the state’s 24.3. It has the highest fentanyl death rate in Kentucky. - $2.2 million in opioid settlement money is unspent. - An “Opioid Meeting Room” was remodeled for $31,983.80. - $200K went to the Sheriff’s office, and $64.9K went to treatment and recovery for the whole year. - The school board received $299,659.15 in county opioid settlement money, with up to $200,000 more approved for this year: - FY2025: $99,999.99 - FY2026: $199,659.16 - FY2026-27: up to $200,000 approved No opioid grants went directly to the district from the state or federal government. The county reimburses the district monthly for expenses, including food, clothes, beds, utility bills, household items, and minor car repairs for kids affected by opioids. They say 387 kids were served the first year, but this year’s report lists every impact number as 0. The claims book has no invoices or itemized spending. The closest thing to a $60K line is a single $60,032.88 payment for “Expenses – January 2026,” part of the existing award, not new money. Robbie Williams is giving money to his sister-in-law, Superintendent Tonya Williams. Are you seeing the bigger picture? Money meant for the community keeps going to the same people in charge for a decade—family, friends, the same names on the checks. There’s little improvement, multiple lawsuits, and no real accountability. Handouts don’t help when they never reach the people who need them. I help people, donate when they get out of jail, and support families. But there’s nothing here for kids—no jobs, activities, or good places to live. The money shows up, but the opportunities don’t. Mountain Comprehensive Care makes $146 million a year in revenue and received another $50,000 in opioid money this spring. Four former employees, including the ex-CFO, are suing. They say they were told to submit false Medicaid and Medicare bills and were fired when they refused. Mountain Comp denies it and is countersuing. No court has ruled, but the checks keep clearing. There are 17,366 people on Medicaid, half the county. Poverty is 27.7%, while the state average is 15.4%. The median household income is $44,735, compared to the state average of $67,000+. Only 43.5% of adults are employed or seeking work, while Kentucky’s rate is 59.3%. The state’s population has declined by 12.8% since 2010, while Kentucky’s has grown by 6.2%. The state auditor’s review found no finance officer, no separation of duties, and purchases without purchase orders or authorizing signatures. Poverty has decreased since 2018, and overdoses are below the 2021 peak. However, eight years in, “better than our worst year ever” is not a campaign slogan. The same judge-executive and governor have been in office since 2019, and if the numbers haven’t improved, the speeches won’t either.