CITY AGREES TO USE ALCOHOL TAX FOR DRUG ABUSE PILOT PROGRAMS

The Wichita City Council agreed Tuesday to spend up to $800,000 on several
new programs aimed at helping people who have alcohol and drug abuse
problems. The money will come from alcohol tax revenue that has been
accumulating in a city reserve fund for three years. More than $860,000 is
in the reserve fund, and under state law, it must be used.

Under the city's plan, $550,000 will be spent over the next two years to
start a case management program to help people after they leave treatment.

An additional $250,000 will be used to start pilot programs for people with
drug or alcohol abuse problems.

City staff members had recommended that the reserve money be spent over
three years just on case management.

The council approved the new plan, which was proposed by council member
Sharon Fearey, by a vote of 6-0. Council member Carl Brewer was absent.

City officials will now seek proposals from agencies interested in
providing either the case management program or a pilot program.

The case management program would serve people after they leave treatment,
helping them with family problems, job issues, transportation or other
situations that could hurt their chances of succeeding. It also would track
those clients to see whether they return to treatment.

Fearey said the city has enough money on hand to get other programs started
and still put together a good case management system.