Hamilton Township, Atlantic County
Hamilton Township certified 46,247.61 of defibrillators to the State as overdose harm reduction, filed balances higher than all the money it says it received, and has produced no ledger of its settlement account.
Published 10/03/2026
TLDR
- Hamilton Township told the State it spent 46,247.61 of settlement money on AEDs and accessories. It filed them as overdose harm reduction both times.
- An AED treats cardiac arrest. Exhibit E names drugs that treat overdoses, not defibrillators.
- The FY2025 program's name is N/A. Its recipient is N/A. Its statement of impact is N/A.
- In FY2024 the Township reported 141,271.22 on hand. It also reported receiving 108,102.52 in total.
- In FY2025 it reported more on hand again than it had ever received.
- In FY2026 the balance dropped 61,424.80 in a year it reported spending 28,702.00 and receiving 31,289.13.
- The Township has not produced a ledger. Its account cannot be checked against what it told the State.
Summary
Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, reported receiving 181,476.16 in opioid settlement money 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. The listed uses cover treatment, recovery, connection to care, prevention and harm reduction.
The Township's four reports to the Department of Human Services certify 47,245.61 spent. The only programs they list are one purchase, reported twice. Heart Start Onsite defibrillators and accessories, 46,247.61 across FY2025 and FY2026.
This project has no ledger of the Township's settlement account. The Township has not produced one. Everything below comes from the Township's own reports. Spending cannot be graded against the books until a ledger is produced. Read the Township's findings.
What the Township received
| Report | Received in the year | Received since 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| FY2023, as of 06/30/2023 | 39,507.92 | 39,507.92 |
| FY2024 | 68,594.60 | 108,102.52 |
| FY2025 | 42,084.51 | 150,187.03 |
| FY2026 | 31,289.13 | 181,476.16 |
Each report certifies 0.00 of interest. The received figures carry forward to the cent.
What it told the State each year
The FY2023 report certifies 0.00 spent. It says the Township was still in the planning stage. It names workforce development, a possible transportation program with Atlantic County, and support for the AtlantiCare Bridge program.
The FY2024 report certifies 0.00 spent, 0.00 encumbered and no program funded. None of the three ideas from FY2023 appears in a later report.
The FY2025 report certifies 18,543.61 spent and 0.00 encumbered. It lists one program. Its name is N/A. Its recipient is N/A. Its description is "Purchase of Heart Start Onsite AED & Accessories." It gives a launch date of 07/10/2024 and a funding date of 08/05/2024. Its statement of goals says the Township outfitted police officers, rescue personnel and local sports parks with AEDs, AED cabinets and suction equipment.
The FY2026 report certifies 28,702.00 spent and 0.00 encumbered. It lists one program, First Responders Readiness, for the Hamilton Township Fire Houses. The description is the same AED purchase, at 27,704.00. It reports 15 individuals served, a duration of four to five years and disbursement of one time only.
The AEDs
Both programs are filed under Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention. Both name the Schedule B strategy Prevent Overdose Deaths and Other Harms. The FY2025 report gives the performance indicator as "One time purchase of AEDs." Asked how the program addresses opioid use disorder, it answers N/A. The FY2026 report adds Treatment as a second category. It says overdose and cardiac arrest victims who survive will be directed to follow up with treatment.
An automated external defibrillator treats cardiac arrest. Exhibit E names naloxone and other drugs that treat overdoses, not defibrillators. No overdose program using this equipment is documented, and no listed use covers it. Certified fire house AEDs as overdose harm reduction.
The balances
The reports also certify what is left on hand. Those figures do not follow from the reports' own numbers.
| Report | Received since 2022 | Spent through the year | Certified on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | 108,102.52 | 0.00 | 141,271.22 |
| FY2025 | 150,187.03 | 18,543.61 | 163,747.70 |
| FY2026 | 181,476.16 | 47,245.61 | 102,322.90 |
In FY2024 and FY2025 the Township reported more on hand than it had received. The FY2024 balance is 33,168.70 above the total received. The FY2025 balance is 13,560.67 above it. Certified 141,271.22 on hand after receiving 108,102.52.
In FY2026 the balance swung the other way. On the reports' figures 134,230.55 should be on hand. The Township certified 102,322.90. Every report certifies 0.00 encumbered and 0.00 of administrative expense. That leaves 31,907.65 the reports do not account for. FY2026 figures leave 31,907.65 of the fund unaccounted for.
FY2026
The State published the Township's FY2026 report on 10/01/2026. It covers 07/01/2025 to 06/30/2026.
It certifies 28,702.00 spent. Its one program certifies 27,704.00. The other 998.00 is in no program. The statement of goals mentions suction equipment and two officers attending the 2026 L.E.A.D. conference. Neither has a program entry. FY2026 certifies 28,702.00 spent, its one program 27,704.00.
The report answers Yes to having a strategic plan, and No to posting it online. The FY2025 report said the Township planned to develop one. The Township reports no public engagement in any year.
What the records show
The record is four reports and no books. The only programs the reports list are defibrillators. They file that equipment as overdose harm reduction. Their balances contradict their own received and spent figures in three straight years.
A ledger of the settlement account is owed. It would show what the 47,245.61 paid for, which account paid it, and where the balance stands. This project will grade the Township when a ledger is produced.
How this project classifies spending is set out in the methodology and the rubric. Corrections follow the corrections policy.