Hawthorne Borough

Summary

Hawthorne Borough, Passaic County, reported receiving 67,266.05 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 Borough produced one account, G-02-2130-40-8000-062, CY23-24 Opioids Settlement Funds. Its audit trail runs from 01/01/2022 to 06/08/2026. The account shows no activity before 07/09/2024. It paid 52,092.61 from then through 06/08/2026.

This project classifies 1,767.97 of that as conforming, 20,352.22 as non-conforming and 29,972.42 as unverified. Unverified means the record does not settle what the money did. Read the Borough's findings.

What it told the State

The FY2023 report lists one program, Combatting the Opioid Epidemic, run by the Hawthorne Municipal Alliance Committee.

The FY2024 report certifies 1,000.00 spent on Leadership Camp and 5,815.24 encumbered for ROAR, the Police Department's school drug education program, formerly D.A.R.E. The produced account shows no activity in that year, and the account that held FY2024 money was not produced. It describes a third program, Not Even Once, as a high school talk followed by a sports trading card of the police officers and a police newsletter mailed to residents.

What the account paid

A 500.00 order for National Night Out entertainment was paid and voided on 07/24/2024. It still prints as an open order.

FY2025

The FY2025 report certifies 34,404.86 spent between 07/01/2024 and 06/30/2025. It lists five new programs and three updates. Their amounts sum to the certified figure.

Four of the eight amounts match payments of the same description to the cent. Junior Police Academy, 973.50, is a junior police academy supply order from a promotional goods company. The report says opioid information was one component of the week-long academy and answers N/A on evidence-based practice. Certified junior police academy supplies as prevention. HPD Community Newsletter, 3,650.00, is the police newsletter. The Not Even Once update, 200.00, is the presentation for high school seniors. The ROAR update, 12,689.87, is three ROAR supply payments.

The Community Outreach Initiative, 7,283.44, is certified as information on opioids for 1,000 children in 50 sessions. Seven payments make the figure to the cent. They are trading cards and sports cards of police personnel for 5,925.92, glow supplies for kids safety on 10/31/2024 for 1,157.52 and a 200.00 fee to cancel National Night Out entertainment. Certified police trading cards as opioid education.

Two programs describe police equipment. Intervention Preparedness, 4,634.00, is to "Purchase rescue tools for Police cars." The report files it under Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention and names the target population as individuals who use drugs. The account paid 4,634.78 for rescue tools for police vehicles on 02/05/2025. No overdose program using the tools is documented. Certified police car rescue tools as harm reduction.

Police Officer Mental Health, 3,774.05, is described as "Exercixe equipment & Gun lockers to secure guns." The report files it under Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention and gives a launch date of 09/01/2025, after the year closed. The account paid 485.50 for weight room storage on 03/05/2025. The ledger names no gun lockers. Exhibit E's first responder uses are education and wellness and support services. No listed use covers gym equipment or gun lockers. Certified weight room storage as harm reduction.

The account paid 38,906.14 in the year, 4,501.28 more than the report certifies. A 1,000.00 charge moved onto the account on 07/09/2024 may be the 1,000.00 the FY2024 report already counted. Without it the books still exceed the report by 3,501.28. The Leadership Camp update certifies 1,200.00. The account paid the Police Department 3,500.00 for leadership camp registration on 04/16/2025. Books show 3,501.28 more FY2025 spending than certified.

The report says the Borough had 13,427.27 on hand. It also says the Borough had received 54,607.91 since 2022, and its three reports certify 35,404.86 spent with nothing encumbered. Received less spent is 19,203.05. Reported 13,427.27 on hand, own figures leave 19,203.05.

FY2026

The State published the Borough's FY2026 report on 10/01/2026. It covers 07/01/2025 to 06/30/2026. It certifies 21,648.13 spent, 0.00 encumbered and 531.33 of administrative expenses "paid to the coordinator."

Three updates equal one payment each. ROAR, 3,266.01, is a ROAR supply order. Police Officer Mental Health, 750.00, is trauma training for the Police Department. Leadership Camp, 800.00, is a camp payment of 09/03/2025.

The Community Outreach Initiative update certifies 16,300.79. It describes Narcan cabinets at police headquarters, the library and the municipal pool, and a clean-up of a main corridor. By 06/08/2026 the account had paid 1,017.97 for one naloxone cabinet for the Police Department and 6,975.00 for signage, lighting and electrical work at the police headquarters entrance. No listed use covers building signage or lighting. Spent 6,975.00 on a lit sign at police headquarters. The audit trail ends before the year closed, so the rest of the 16,300.79 cannot be tested.

The report says the Borough has 45,981.43 on hand. It also says the Borough has received 67,266.05 since 2022. Its four reports certify 57,052.99 spent. Received less spent is 10,213.06. Carried forward from the FY2025 report, the balance is 4,437.28. The report names no other source of money. Reported 45,981.43 on hand, own figures leave 10,213.06.

What the records do not show

The account holds 36,525.97 of settlement receipts. The FY2026 report says the Borough received 67,266.05. The Borough produced no other account, so where the rest was held is not in the record.

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