Nashville Considers Enhanced Oversight of Opioid Settlement Funds After Audit Findings
Following a concerning audit of its opioid settlement funds, Nashville is considering implementing more oversight. The audit, released in June, highlighted issues with how the city's Metro Public Health Department has managed over $13 million in funds received from opioid…
Nashville, TN, July 23, 2026 —
NASHVILLE – In response to an audit revealing significant concerns regarding the management of over $13 million in opioid settlement funds, Nashville is exploring measures to implement more stringent oversight of these resources.
The audit, which was released in June, detailed several issues within the Metro Public Health Department’s handling of funds allocated from opioid manufacturers. Key findings included the use of settlement money for staff salaries without sufficient tracking of the hours dedicated to opioid-related work. The report also indicated potential interference by management during audit processes, errors in payments made to contractors, and a lack of robust measurement for program effectiveness.
To address these findings, a proposed resolution is before the Metro Council. The resolution outlines a plan to transfer some financial monitoring responsibilities to the Metro Finance Department. Additionally, it proposes the appointment of a dedicated opioid settlement coordinator. A significant component of the proposed changes involves the creation of a public transparency dashboard. This dashboard is intended to provide clear visibility into how the settlement funds are being expended and to track key performance metrics for the programs these funds support.
The audit’s findings have prompted a call for greater accountability and clarity in the administration of funds intended to combat the opioid crisis within the city.
Story summarized from the original created by Catherine Sweeney on wpln.org, see more information here.
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