North Arlington Borough
North Arlington Borough reported 80,869.83 in opioid settlement money received and 10,250.00 spent, then told the State in FY2026 that it had 18,556.31 left, and it has produced no ledger to show where the rest went.
Published 10/03/2026
TLDR
- North Arlington Borough says it has received 80,869.83 in opioid settlement money. It says it has spent 10,250.00.
- Its FY2026 report says 18,556.31 is left. By its own figures 70,619.83 should be. The 52,063.52 gap is every dollar received before 07/01/2025, less the 10,250.00.
- The FY2026 report certifies nothing spent and nothing committed. The report names nothing the money paid for.
- The one program it ever reported, a 10,250.00 speaking engagement, is certified as spent and still committed at the same time. It launched almost four months after the year it was charged to.
- In FY2024 the Borough reported 3,272.70 more on hand than it had ever received.
- The Borough has produced no ledger.
Summary
North Arlington Borough, Bergen County, files a report each year with the Department of Human Services on its share of the national opioid settlements. The money must go to the abatement uses Exhibit E of the settlements lists, or to documented, evidence-based programs that address the epidemic. It must add to local spending, not replace it.
The Borough has produced no ledger for its settlement money. Everything below comes from its four reports to the State. Spending cannot be graded against the books, and no transaction is classified. Read the Borough's findings.
What the Borough received
The reports certify these receipts. Each year's cumulative figure is the prior figure plus the year's receipts, to the cent. The Borough reports no interest in any year.
| Period | Received in the period | Received since 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Through 06/30/2023 | 5,124.21 | 5,124.21 |
| 07/01/2023 to 06/30/2024 | 34,809.49 | 39,933.70 |
| 07/01/2024 to 06/30/2025 | 22,379.82 | 62,313.52 |
| 07/01/2025 to 06/30/2026 | 18,556.31 | 80,869.83 |
What it told the State each year
| Report | Expended | Encumbered | Administrative | Unspent on hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | 0.00 | not asked | 0.00 | not asked |
| FY2024 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 43,206.40 |
| FY2025 | 10,250.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 52,758.61 |
| FY2026 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 18,556.31 |
The FY2023 report names Harm Reduction as the Borough's goal. The FY2024 report says plans were underway for sessions with the Board of Education and answers No when asked whether it funded any programs. The FY2025 report says the goal was to provide educational programs and lists one program. The FY2026 report gives the goal as preventing drug abuse, names the resources it used to decide as none, and answers No when asked whether it funded any programs. Every report says the Borough has no strategic plan.
What it spent
The only spending the Borough has certified is 10,250.00 in FY2025. The FY2025 report lists one program, MJPB Consulting Speaking Engage, described as speaking engagements in the schools for children, teenagers and parents. It certifies the program under Primary Prevention, Education, and Training. School prevention presentations of this kind can fall within the listed uses. With no invoice, purchase order or ledger produced, this project cannot confirm what was bought or when it was paid.
What the reports show
The FY2026 report certifies 18,556.31 on hand. That is the year's receipts to the cent. Received since 2022 less the only spending ever certified leaves 70,619.83. The report drops 52,063.52, which is exactly what the Borough held at 06/30/2025 by its own figures. It certifies nothing spent, nothing committed and no programs funded in the year. A year earlier it had certified 52,758.61 on hand. Reported 52,063.52 less on hand than its own figures give.
The FY2025 program block reports 10,250.00 of funding, 10,250.00 expended and 10,250.00 encumbered. The summary page of the same report certifies 0.00 encumbered. The program is dated as funded on 06/30/2025, the last day of the year, and launched on 10/23/2025. The same report answers No when asked whether the Borough funded any new programs. The FY2026 report, the year the program launched, certifies nothing spent. Counted one 10,250.00 program as spent and still committed.
The balances in the earlier reports do not follow from their own figures either.
| Report | Received since 2022 | Spent to date | Received less spent | Certified on hand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | 39,933.70 | 0.00 | 39,933.70 | 43,206.40 | 3,272.70 more |
| FY2025 | 62,313.52 | 10,250.00 | 52,063.52 | 52,758.61 | 695.09 more |
| FY2026 | 80,869.83 | 10,250.00 | 70,619.83 | 18,556.31 | 52,063.52 less |
Reported 3,272.70 more on hand than it had ever received. Reported 695.09 more on hand than receipts less spending.
What is missing
The Borough has produced no ledger, budget account status or audit trail for its settlement money. Without one, this project cannot say whether the 10,250.00 was paid, in which year, or to whom. It cannot say where the 52,063.52 the FY2026 report leaves out is held or what it paid for. The account that would answer both questions is owed.