2017-09-12 Budget mtg - Coroner for 2018Budget meeting with Coroner
September 12, 2017
9 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Stamper, Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, Becky Butler, Steve
Walton, Warren McLeod, Dawn Harris, Sandy Peck
Guests: Justyna Tomtas, Mitch Townsend, Matt Brock, Bill Marshall, Anthony Ahrens, Linda Williams
Recorder: Rieva Lester
2018 prelim budget: revenue $34,000 $28,000; expenditures: $439,300, FTEs: 2
Revenue review
Warren McLeod said revenue is now $28,000 because there is no budget for Dig Class. He said the class
is $200 per person and is held twice annually. In 2017, he said, the prosecuting attorney’s office
financed it.
He said the state reimburses 40 percent for autopsies, 100 percent for children age 3 or younger.
He said the Coverdale grant was not secured for 2018.
Expenditure review
Becky Butler said Warren uses extra help “on call” services to help keep costs down. Warren said he and
Dawn work extra shifts to offset the need for some of the extra help.
Expenditure limitation discussion
Increase requested: $30,133 for professional services / removals made by the contract mortuary.
Warren said all autopsies must be done by board-certified forensic pathologists. He said the 2018
contract would be $88,000 for the use of two on-call pathologists for up to 70 autopsies and two
external views as well as unlimited consultations. He said hiring the county’s own board-certified
forensic pathologists would cost $160,000 annually. He said the Coroner’s Office averages about 50
autopsies per year. The highest total was 79.
Becky noted the jump in mortuary services. Warren said the doctors’ contract has increased roughly
$6,000 annually. Warren discussed decedent removals. He said Sticklin and Brown charge $270 per
removal. He said the office averages 12 decedent removals per month.
Warren discussed indigent burials, which are state-mandated but unfunded. He said unclaimed
individuals for whom next of kin cannot be found, are cremated. He said the cost is $500 per person.
Overall summary / goals / challenges (short and long term)
Unfunded mandates.
Questions
Mitch Townsend asked about laboratory services. Warren said the doctors do their own histologies,
toxicology is done for free through WSP, and DNA testing can be done for free at the University of Texas.
He said WSP will do DNA testing for free in criminal cases.
Meeting ended at 9:33 a.m.