Cedar Grove Township

Summary

Cedar Grove Township, Essex County, reported receiving 35,061.54 in opioid settlement money from 2022 through 06/30/2026. The national settlements list abatement uses such as treatment, recovery, connection to care, prevention and harm reduction. The list is not exhaustive. Other documented, evidence-based programs that address the epidemic also qualify. The money must add to existing spending, not replace it. A municipality may also transfer its share to its county.

The Township keeps the money on one budget line, G-02-56-9007-2001, Opioid Grant. The line was created on 09/19/2024. It has made one payment, 23,648.14 to the County of Essex. Every other row on it is a budget entry. This project classes the payment as a transfer to the county, not as spending, so no part of it is classed conforming, non-conforming or unverified.

The FY2025 report's spending figure ties to the books to the cent. The FY2026 report's spending figure, 0.00, is true. The FY2025 report's appropriated and on hand figure includes an insertion made after the year closed. The FY2026 report counts that insertion again. Read the Township's findings.

What the Township told the State

The FY2023 report covers the period to 06/30/2023. It certifies 2,354.90 received and nothing spent. It says the Township did not transfer its funds. It answers "No, but plan to" on public engagement, a strategic plan and a risk assessment.

The FY2024 report certifies 18,116.75 received since 2022, nothing spent and 18,116.75 on hand. It gives the Township's goal as "turn over to the county." It reports no programs.

The FY2025 report certifies 26,533.47 received since 2022. It states that the Township transferred some of its funds to the county, 23,648.14. It certifies the same 23,648.14 as expended, 2,885.05 appropriated or encumbered and 2,885.05 on hand. It says the receipts "were authorized by the Governing Body to be turned over to Essex County for awareness programs." It reports no new programs.

The FY2026 report certifies 8,527.79 received in the year, 35,061.54 since 2022, nothing spent, nothing encumbered and 9,142.52 on hand. It says the Township did not transfer funds in the year. It gives the Township's goal as "Will be transferring funds to County." It names the Township Manager and the Chief of Police as the officials who decided how to spend the funds. It reports no programs.

The transfer to the County

On 02/03/2025 the Township Council adopted Resolution 7(h), "Authorizing the Remittance of National Opioid Settlement Funds to the County of Essex." It recites that the Township had received 23,648.14 and that the County "has established a comprehensive Opioid Remediation Program." It resolves that the funds "will be remitted to the County of Essex in the amount of $23,648.14." It names no County program and sets no condition or reporting requirement.

Purchase order 25-00975, dated 04/01/2025, is one line to the County of Essex, Division of the Treasury, for 23,648.14, described as "OPIOID SETTEMENT FUNDS." Its claimant and officer certification blocks are blank. Check 1385 paid it on 04/07/2025. The Township's check register shows the check reconciled on 07/31/2025.

The back of check 1385 carries the County's deposit stamp. It reads "FOR DEPOSIT ONLY, COUNTY OF ESSEX CURRENT FUND."

The FY2025 report states the 23,648.14 at question 5 as the amount transferred to the county, and certifies the same figure as expended. That ties to check 1385 to the cent. What the County did with the money is in the County's own records. The Township told this project it holds no correspondence with the County about the money.

What the Township reported as received

The Opioid Grant line was set up with 23,648.14 in 2024 and paid it out on 04/07/2025. After that, Chapter 159 budget insertions rebuilt the balance.

The FY2025 report covers 07/01/2024 to 06/30/2025. It certifies 2,885.05 appropriated or encumbered in that period and 2,885.05 on hand. The line held 614.73 on 06/30/2025. It reached 2,885.05 on 07/14/2025, after the period closed. Its 8,416.44 received in the year is the rest of the 23,648.14 the resolution counts, 5,531.39, plus the insertions of 05/19/2025 and 07/14/2025. Reported 2,885.05 appropriated in FY2025, books show 614.73.

The FY2026 report's 8,527.79 received in the year is the five insertions from 07/14/2025 to 06/22/2026. The 07/14/2025 insertion is in both years. Its 9,142.52 on hand is the balance on 06/22/2026, to the cent.

The difference is the 2,270.32 insertion counted twice and 0.56 of interest the FY2025 and FY2026 reports certify, which the account does not show. The FY2026 report's own figures do not close either. 35,061.54 received less the 23,648.14 sent to the County and the 9,142.52 on hand leaves the same 2,270.88. Counted one 2,270.32 receipt in two report years.

Where the money is

The FY2026 report says the Township will transfer funds to the County. No second resolution and no second payment is in the record through 09/09/2026.

How this project classifies spending is set out in the methodology and the rubric. Corrections follow the corrections policy.