BLOUNT COUNTY, TN – Blount County Commissioners are set to vote on July 16, 2026, on Resolution No. 26-07-004, a budget amendment that would allocate $465,375 to the Helen Ross McNabb Center to combat the local opioid crisis. Sponsored by Commissioners Mike Caylor and Nick Bright, the resolution seeks to fund three residential treatment beds per day within the newly opened Substance Use Residential Treatment Facility.
The funding is designed to provide immediate access to care for residents who often face barriers—such as suspended health insurance—upon being released from jail. The cost for these dedicated beds is set at $425 per bed, per day.
A Decade in the Making: History and Startup
The push for this facility began over a decade ago as Blount County struggled with severe jail overcrowding fueled by untreated addiction and mental illness. When Mayor Ed Mitchell was elected 16 years ago, addressing drug-related crime was a cornerstone of his platform. To find a solution, the county launched the Blount County Community Justice Initiative (BCCJI) and commissioned a nine-month feasibility study.
The study’s core finding was that expanding jail capacity alone would be a failure if the county did not address the root causes of criminality. This led to the development of the Blount County Transition Campus, which officially held its ribbon-cutting on June 17, 2026. The five-building campus is the first of its kind in Tennessee, featuring an 18-man re-entry building, a 16-bed recovery building for men and women, and three recovery cottages for long-term assistance.
Financial Impact on Taxpayers
In addressing the project’s cost, county records indicate a heavy reliance on non-local tax revenue. The $465,375 requested in the pending resolution is specifically appropriated from federal opioid grant funds. These funds are part of the national opioid settlements secured to mitigate the damage caused by the epidemic.
While the project utilizes these federal grants and state mental health grants, the long-term goal for the county is cost avoidance. By providing structured re-entry and treatment, officials aim to reduce recidivism and decrease the long-term utilization of expensive judicial, correctional, and emergency resources that are currently funded by local taxpayers. The McNabb Center will also continue to bill private insurance when applicable to supplement operational costs.