Metuchen Borough
Metuchen Borough told the State it spent 0.00 of its opioid settlement money in FY2024 while its CARES account paid 7,287.06, and it left 19,318.54 of spending out of its reports.
Published 09/23/2026 · Updated 10/03/2026
TLDR
- Metuchen told the State it spent 0.00 of its opioid settlement money in FY2024. Its CARES account paid 7,287.06 that year.
- Its FY2025 report counted one opioid account and left out the other. The one left out paid 12,813.48.
- Across both years, 19,318.54 was paid and never reported. The unspent figure it certified is too high by the same amount.
- Its FY2023 figure counted a 782.00 order as spent. The check went out 11 days after the year closed.
- A police course went to the State as Primary Prevention, Education, and Training, with Seton Hall University named as the recipient. The Borough paid ZSchool LLC. The same program carried 11,371.11 of police officers' pay to attend it, paid back to the Borough's Current Fund.
- The FY2026 report ties to the books to the cent. It certifies 10,700.00 for a BMX drug awareness show and a student peer leadership conference, and both checks match.
The Borough's own ledger shows all of it.
Summary
Metuchen Borough, Middlesex County, has received 74,420.73 in opioid settlement money through 06/30/2026, by its own reports. The money may be spent only on the opioid abatement uses listed in the national settlements.
The Borough keeps the money in two accounts. G-02-41-708-501 is captioned Opioid Settlement Assigned to CARES. G-02-41-708-601 is captioned Opioid Settlement Boro Assigned. Through 06/11/2026 the two accounts paid 65,228.56 between them.
Most of what the CARES account bought is prevention and public education. School presentations, an overdose awareness billboard, lawn signs and wallet cards. The Borough's first three reports to the Department of Human Services do not match what the accounts paid. The fourth, for FY2026, does.
- FY2024 certifies 0.00 spent. The CARES account paid 7,287.06 in that year.
- FY2025 certifies the Boro account to the cent and omits the CARES account's 12,813.48.
- FY2023 counts an unpaid 782.00 order as spent.
- Every unspent figure is receipts less what was certified. It is not receipts less what was paid.
The largest single program the Borough reported is a 26,221.11 police course and payroll block, filed under prevention.
This project's grade for Metuchen carries a cap because the Borough certified 0.00 spent in a year its books show spending.
How this report was prepared
The reports to the State and the Borough's Budget Account Status and Transaction Audit Trail were obtained under the Open Public Records Act. The audit trail covers accounts G-02-41-708-500 to G-02-41-708-800 from 01/01/2018 to 06/11/2026. It lists every expenditure on both opioid accounts. The Borough produced no revenue trail, so receipts into the accounts cannot be tied to the reports. All four documents are posted on the Metuchen page. The State published the FY2026 report on 10/01/2026, and it is posted there too.
FY2024, certified as zero
The FY2024 report certifies 0.00 expended, 0.00 encumbered and no programs. Asked how the Borough decided to use the money, it answers "N/A - no funds used this reporting year."
The CARES account paid 7,287.06 between 07/01/2023 and 06/30/2024.
| Payee | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Parachute | Farm market and National Night Out giveaway | 782.00 |
| Heros and Cool Kids | YMCA summer prevention program | 4,500.00 |
| WB Mason | 35.20 | |
| Fresco by Jimmy | 85.95 | |
| Blue Parachute | Overdose awareness lawn signs and banners | 887.50 |
| Baker and Taylor | Library books | 996.41 |
| Total | 7,287.06 |
The 782.00 had already been counted in the FY2023 figure. The other 6,505.06 does not appear in any report. Finding: Certified 0.00 spent in FY2024 while CARES paid 7,287.06. See the zero-certification pattern.
FY2025, one account of two
The FY2025 report certifies 30,456.11 expended. That is every payment on the Boro account in the year, to the cent.
| Payee | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NJ State Elks Association | Peer leadership conference, check 105 | 4,235.00 |
| ZSchool LLC | Police course, check 106 | 14,850.00 |
| Metuchen Current Fund | Payroll Opioid, five checks | 11,371.11 |
| Total | 30,456.11 |
The CARES account paid 12,813.48 in the same year. None of it is in the certified figure.
| Payee | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Outfront Media | Opioid billboard | 3,250.00 |
| Herren Talks | High school presentation | 7,570.98 |
| Wellspring Center for Prevention | Presentation | 500.00 |
| International Guidelines Center | ASAM treatment guidebooks | 1,492.50 |
| Total | 12,813.48 |
The same report carries an update on the Borough's FY2023 program, Metuchen CARES. It reads "No, Program was a one-time event" and certifies 0.00 expended in the period. Finding: FY2025 report left out the CARES account's 12,813.48.
FY2023, an order counted as paid
The FY2023 report certifies 4,705.16 spent as of 6/30/23. The CARES account paid 3,923.16 in that window. 4imprint 783.16, Matt Bellace Presentations 2,000.00, Blue Parachute 140.00 and the Metuchen Parent Teacher Council 1,000.00.
The other 782.00 is Blue Parachute purchase order 23000952. The ledger shows it encumbered 06/21/2023 and paid 07/11/2023 on check 47201, after the year closed. 3,923.16 plus 782.00 equals 4,705.16. Finding: Counted an unpaid 782.00 order as spent in FY2023.
The unspent balance
Each report's unspent figure is cumulative receipts less only what was certified.
- FY2024. 39,056.03 less 4,705.16 equals 34,350.87, the certified figure.
- FY2025. 59,014.97 less 4,705.16 less 30,456.11 equals 23,853.70, the certified figure.
On the same 59,014.97 of receipts, the checks in the ledger leave 4,535.16. That is 59,014.97 less 3,923.16, 7,287.06 and 43,269.59. The difference from the certified 23,853.70 is 19,318.54. It is the CARES spending no report certified, 6,505.06 in FY2024 and 12,813.48 in FY2025. Counting a net 48.75 of journal reclasses on the CARES account, the book balance is 4,486.41. Finding: Unspent balance overstated by 19,318.54.
The police course
The FY2025 report's first program is Operational Readiness for Police Officers, certified at 26,221.11. It names Seton Hall University as the recipient. The recipient category is First Responders, Law Enforcement, and Emergency Services. The primary category is Primary Prevention, Education, and Training. The measure of success is "Completion of the four-hour course by the Metuchen police force." The report anticipates 33 clients a year.
The ledger shows no payment to Seton Hall University. It shows these payments.
- ZSchool LLC, check 106, 04/29/2025, 14,850.00, captioned OP READINESS FOR POLICE COURSE.
- Five checks to the Metuchen Current Fund captioned PAYROLL OPIOID, 03/12/2025 to 05/07/2025. 471.73, 5,894.70, 2,505.87, 1,695.39 and 803.42. Together 11,371.11.
14,850.00 plus 11,371.11 equals 26,221.11.
The Borough's Paylocity earnings listing, produced 09/24/2026, shows what the five payroll checks paid. Its pay codes are named Grant Opioid Training. 33 police officers each logged 4.00 hours. 29 were paid overtime, 10,737.02. 4 were paid regular time, 634.09. Grouped by check date, the listing matches the five checks to the cent. The 33 clients the report projects are the 33 officers, and the 4 hours are the course.
So 43.4 percent of the program certified as prevention is the Borough's own police payroll, paid back to its Current Fund from the opioid account. The 634.09 of regular pay is salary the Borough would have paid those officers anyway. N.J.S.A. 26:2G-39(f) and MOA Section D(7) require settlement money to supplement local funds and not supplant them. D(7) also bars using it to reimburse past expenditures. Finding: Police course and payroll certified as prevention.
The course itself fits Exhibit E. Schedule B lists training law enforcement on addressing the needs of people with opioid use disorder, and it lists training. The report names a recipient the Borough did not pay, and it carries the Borough's payroll inside the program. The Borough's vendor file for ZSchool shows one payment ever, the 14,850.00. See the ZSchool vendor page.
FY2026
The FY2026 report covers 07/01/2025 to 06/30/2026 and was published 10/01/2026. It certifies 15,405.76 received, 10,700.00 expended, 0.00 encumbered and 0.00 of administration. It lists two new programs, both under Primary Prevention, Education, and Training.
| FY2026 program | Certified | Books |
|---|---|---|
| BMX Drug Awareness Program, Dialed Action Sports | 3,000.00 | Dialed Action Agency, Drug Aware Bike Safety Show, check 107, 08/05/2025, 3,000.00 |
| New Jersey Elks Peer Leadership Conference | 7,700.00 | NJ State Elks Association, check 108, 02/10/2026, 7,700.00 |
| Total | 10,700.00 | 10,700.00 |
The report says the bike show was a one time program at the Borough's National Night Out, identified by the Chief of Police. Those two checks are the only payments from either opioid account in the year. The audit trails printed 09/03/2026 and 09/23/2026 show nothing else paid after 02/10/2026. The figure, the payees and the dates all match the books.
What remains open
- The journal showing which Current Fund salary line first paid the officers.
- A Seton Hall University vendor history, or a statement that none exists.
- A revenue trail. The Boro account has paid 41,156.11 through 06/11/2026 and prints no appropriation.