Borough of Pompton Lakes
Pompton Lakes certified walk T-shirts and tote bags to the State as harm reduction, spent 10,740.00 on a defibrillator package, and reported funds on hand that its own figures contradict three years running.
Published 10/03/2026
TLDR
- The Borough reports receiving 80,425.78 in opioid settlement money through 06/30/2026. It has spent 20,572.50 of it.
- It certified 200 tote bags and 250 T-shirts for a walk, 3,382.50, to the State as harm reduction and overdose prevention.
- It spent 10,740.00 on a Defibtech Lifeline AED package. Defibrillators treat cardiac arrest. No overdose program using them is documented.
- In FY2024 it reported 43,075.66 on hand. It had received 35,977.89.
- In FY2025 it reported 0.00 on hand. Its own figures left 59,254.82.
- In FY2026 it reported 46,481.88 on hand. Its own figures left 57,206.63.
Summary
The Borough of Pompton Lakes, Passaic County, reports receiving 80,425.78 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 keeps the money in one account, G-02-41-860-301, now titled Opioids (thru 2025). Through 08/28/2026 the account paid 21,619.15. One check for 1,046.65 was voided, so the net is 20,572.50. Another 1,600.00 is on an open order.
| Use | Amount |
|---|---|
| Lifesavers Inc, Defibtech Lifeline AED package | 10,740.00 |
| DC Apparel, Walk for Hope totes and T-shirts | 3,382.50 |
| JRZV Enterprises, Up To It speaking day | 3,450.00 |
| Hill Speaks, sobriety assemblies at two schools | 3,000.00 |
| L.E.A.D., grade 6 curriculum kits, check voided | 0.00 |
| Net paid through 08/28/2026 | 20,572.50 |
| Home Field Advantage, 2026 Walk for Hope T-shirts, open | 1,600.00 |
This project classifies 14,122.50 as non-conforming, the AED package and the Walk for Hope totes and T-shirts. The open 1,600.00 order for 2026 walk T-shirts is classified the same way. It classifies the other 6,450.00 as unverified, the school assemblies and the speaking day, because no program behind them is documented beyond a purchase order. Nothing in the account is classified conforming.
What the Borough told the State
The FY2023 report covers the period through 06/30/2023. It reports 11,605.38 received and 0.00 spent. The Borough was working with its professionals on a plan.
The FY2024 report covers 07/01/2023 to 06/30/2024. It reports 35,977.89 received since 2022, 0.00 spent and 0.00 encumbered. It reports 43,075.66 unspent on hand. That is 7,097.77 more than the Borough says it had received. FY2024 report put 43,075.66 on hand, above all it got.
The FY2025 report covers 07/01/2024 to 06/30/2025. It certifies 3,382.50 spent on one program, the Pompton Lakes Walk for Hope, with DC Apparel named as the recipient. It files the walk under Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention. DC Apparel check 10074 of 05/29/2025 paid 700.00 for 200 tote bags and 2,682.50 for 250 T-shirts. The two make the certified figure to the cent. Tote bags and T-shirts are not among the uses Exhibit E lists. Certified walk T-shirts and tote bags as harm reduction.
The FY2025 report gives 0.00 as unspent on hand. The same report says the Borough had received 62,637.32 and spent 3,382.50. The account paid nothing else before 01/15/2026. On the report's own figures 59,254.82 remained. Reported 0.00 on hand while 59,254.82 sat unspent.
The FY2026 report covers 07/01/2025 to 06/30/2026. It certifies 18,236.65 spent and 1,600.00 encumbered, with 46,481.88 unspent on hand. It gives the year's goal in two words, "Public awareness." It answers Yes when asked whether the Borough funded programs. The report the State published carries no program pages.
The four reports together certify 80,425.78 received and 21,619.15 spent, and the FY2026 report certifies 1,600.00 encumbered. That leaves 57,206.63 uncommitted. The FY2026 report certifies 46,481.88. The account shows no other payment through 08/28/2026. Reported 10,724.75 less on hand than its figures leave.
The AED package
On 11/25/2025 the Borough encumbered purchase order 25-01399 to Lifesavers Inc for a Defibtech Lifeline AED package. Check 11341 paid it, 10,740.00, on 01/15/2026. It is the largest payment the account has made.
Four orders paid in the FY2026 period make the certified 18,236.65 to the cent.
| Paid | Payee | Check | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/15/2026 | Lifesavers Inc | 11341 | 10,740.00 |
| 03/26/2026 | L.E.A.D. | 11769 | 1,046.65 |
| 04/09/2026 | Hill Speaks LLC | 11826 | 3,000.00 |
| 05/14/2026 | JRZV Enterprises LLC | 11989 | 3,450.00 |
| Certified spent, FY2026 | 18,236.65 |
The AED package is 59 percent of that figure. Defibrillators treat cardiac arrest. Exhibit E names naloxone and other drugs that treat overdoses. It names no defibrillator. No overdose program using this equipment is documented. Paid 10,740.00 of settlement money for an AED package.
Lifesavers is not new to the Borough. Its vendor report shows Borough lines paid Lifesavers in every year from 2018 to 2025, for materials, supplies, equipment and courses. Check 11341 itself also paid Lifesavers 975.25 for materials and supplies from a Borough line. On 08/13/2026 a Borough equipment line paid Lifesavers 1,821.95. The Borough blacked out the item descriptions on the report, so the record does not show what those orders bought.
The other spending
The Walk for Hope apparel moved between funding sources. This project classifies it as non-conforming. In 2024 the Stigma Free Grant line paid DC Apparel 2,727.50. In 2025 the same purchase order that put 700.00 of totes on the settlement account put 1,000.00 on the Stigma Free Grant. The 2026 walk T-shirts, 1,600.00 from Home Field Advantage, are open on the settlement account.
The JRZV speaking day appears twice on the vendor report. Purchase order 26-00529 and check 11989 charged 3,450.00 to the settlement account and 3,450.00 to a Coalition Grant line. The record does not show whether the event cost 6,900.00 or one invoice was charged to two funds.
The L.E.A.D. order bought Too Good for Drugs grade 6 kits and student books for 1,046.65. The Borough voided check 11769 on 08/19/2026, after the FY2026 report period closed. The Borough's own DARE Program line paid L.E.A.D. 1,549.00 between 2018 and 2023.
What the records do not show
The account's appropriation is 58,525.31. The Borough reports receiving 80,425.78. The produced records do not show where the other 21,900.47 sits. The account's title now ends "(thru 2025)." The Borough has produced no print for any other settlement account.
What should happen
The Borough can restore 14,122.50 to the fund, the AED package and the walk apparel, and spend it on a listed use or a documented abatement program.
The Department of Human Services and the Office of the State Comptroller should examine what programs the FY2026 report covers and what records support it.
How this project classifies spending is set out in the methodology and the rubric. Corrections follow the corrections policy.