Lindsay Hackett News Today

Money from the settlement of opioid-related lawsuits is pouring into Massachusetts. The state has set spending priorities and is awarding grants. But most municipalities haven't spent any of the more than $51 million delivered since payments began in July of 2022.

Massachusetts will receive these funds over 18 years from a variety of settlements. The money is split between a state fund and municipal funds in order to address the opioid crisis, but municipal funds are not currently set up to manage a specific issue like this.

This is the first of several meetings that will discuss the proposed budget. Three of these meetings will be held outside of City Hall.

As of May 3, over $4.2 million in direct cash has been distributed to over 3,000 Springfield households. As many as 16,000 applicants are still waiting to hear.

Money set aside for "rainy day", unfunded pension liability, property purchases

But Finance Committee makes no recommendation on use of free cash

Springfield City Council holds off accepting $1 million anti-gang grant as some question transparency, effectiveness Updated Feb 17, 2021; SPRINGFIELD — The City Council recently delayed accepting a $1 million youth and gang violence prevention grant with some members saying they want more details on how the money is spent and whether the programs are effective. Tracye Whitfield, chairwoman of the council’s Finance Committee, said this week she is looking for specifics and data on spending...

     COVID-19 testing capacity is being expanded in the largest city in western Massachusetts.      The city of Springfield is planning to open a COVID-19 testing site at the Putnam Vocational Technical High School.  It will be for city residents who want to get tested whether they have symptoms or not, according to the city’s Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris.      "Right now, the only other testing site is at Eastfield Mall and there are long lines th...