Bayonne City
Bayonne City has received 2,120,253.10 in opioid settlement money, has produced no ledger, and its reports to the State cannot agree on how much of that money is left.
Published 10/03/2026
TLDR
- Bayonne says it has received 2,120,253.10 in opioid settlement money since 2022. Its reports say it has spent 276,533.66.
- Its FY2026 report says 239,945.20 is left. Its own figures leave 1,843,719.44.
- The 239,945.20 is that year's receipts less that year's spending. Four years of money is not in it.
- In FY2024 it spent nothing and committed nothing. It still reported 141,076.06 less on hand than it had received.
- In FY2025 it certified 229,401.69 committed. Its one program shows 186.31. The rest never appears again.
- In FY2026 it certified a Fire Department decontamination tent, 41,612.24, as Primary Prevention, Education, and Training.
- The City has not produced a ledger. Nothing it told the State can be tested against its books.
Summary
Bayonne City, Hudson County, State ID NJ6, reports receiving 2,120,253.10 in opioid settlement money from 2022 through 06/30/2026. The money must go to the abatement uses the national settlements list, or to documented evidence-based programs that address the epidemic. It must add to local spending, not replace it.
The City's four reports to the Department of Human Services certify 276,533.66 spent through 06/30/2026. Of that, 233,349.42 is a Police Department school program in FY2025. The rest is a decontamination tent, defibrillator supplies and a printer in FY2026.
This project cannot test those figures against the books. The City has not produced a ledger for its settlement money. Its reports also do not agree with one another on how much money is left.
What the City received
| Report | Received in the year | Received since 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | 422,343.55 | 422,343.55 |
| FY2024 | 904,616.18 | 1,326,959.73 |
| FY2025 | 510,163.93 | 1,837,123.66 |
| FY2026 | 283,129.44 | 2,120,253.10 |
Each cumulative figure equals the year before plus the year's receipts. Every report certifies 0.00 of interest.
What it told the State
| Report | Spent | Encumbered | On hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | 0.00 | not asked | not asked |
| FY2024 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,185,883.67 |
| FY2025 | 233,349.42 | 229,401.69 | 1,262,481.31 |
| FY2026 | 43,184.24 | 0.00 | 239,945.20 |
Every report certifies 0.00 of administrative spending.
The FY2023 report says the City needs to establish programs to address the opioid problem. It names fentanyl test strips and Narcan as the immediate need. No later report lists either.
The FY2024 report certifies nothing spent and answers No to funding any program. It says the City is developing strategies for education, outreach, harm reduction and professional services.
The FY2025 report lists one program, the LEADS Program, recipient Bayonne Police Department. It describes LEADS as the program formerly known as D.A.R.E., run by police officers in schools. It was funded and launched 02/17/2025, with 233,535.73 funded, 233,349.42 spent and 186.31 encumbered. It reports 900 participants and 10 sessions. Without a ledger, this project cannot see what the 233,349.42 paid for.
The FY2026 report lists two new programs and one update. All three are equipment.
- Automated External Defibrillator (AED), Bayonne Fire Department, 773.00, funded 4/28/2026.
- DeCon Tent, Bayonne Fire Department, 41,612.24, funded 4/2/2026.
- LEADS Program update, 799.00. The update says the City "Purchased a printer for the program."
The three add to the 43,184.24 certified as spent.
The tent and the defibrillator supplies
The DeCon Tent's stated purpose is to "Purchase a decontamination tent to protect first responders." It reports 12 individuals served. The report files it under Primary Prevention, Education, and Training. Exhibit E's prevention category names media campaigns, school and youth prevention programs, coalitions and drug take-back. Its First Responders category adds education on fentanyl precautions and wellness services for responders. No listed use covers a decontamination tent. Certified a fire decontamination tent as prevention.
The AED program is defibrillator supplies for the Fire Department. Its intended impact is to "Save residents from cardiac deaths due to substance abuse." The report files it under Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention. An AED treats cardiac arrest. Exhibit E names naloxone and other drugs that treat overdoses, not defibrillators. Certified defibrillator supplies as overdose harm reduction.
What is left
On the City's own reports, 1,843,719.44 was left at 06/30/2026. The FY2026 report certifies 239,945.20. That is 283,129.44 received in the year less 43,184.24 spent in the year, to the cent. The question asks for unspent funds from any reporting year. FY2026 on hand figure leaves out 1,603,774.24.
The earlier years do not add up either.
- FY2024 certifies 1,326,959.73 received, nothing spent and nothing committed. It reports 1,185,883.67 on hand, 141,076.06 short. FY2024 on hand figure 141,076.06 short with nothing spent.
- FY2025 leaves 1,374,372.55 after its spent and encumbered figures. It reports 1,262,481.31, 111,891.24 less. Carried forward from the FY2024 figure, the balance would be 1,233,296.49. FY2025 on hand figure is 111,891.24 below its own math.
The encumbrance that disappears
The FY2025 report certifies 229,401.69 appropriated or encumbered but not spent. Its one program, LEADS, shows 186.31 encumbered. No other program carries the other 229,215.38. The FY2026 report certifies 0.00 encumbered. Its spending is the tent, the defibrillator supplies and a 799.00 printer, all bought in FY2026. Nothing in it accounts for the rest. FY2025 certified 229,401.69 committed, its program 186.31.
What the records show
The record is four reports to the State. The City has not produced a ledger, a purchase order, a contract or a resolution for its settlement money. A ledger is owed before any of the 276,533.66 can be traced to a payment, or the balance confirmed.