Coroner warns budget cuts could delay autopsies, increase costs if office collapses
Dr. Bloomquist told commissioners that the coroner's office is operating at about 85% of requested general‑fund support, faces staffing shortages, and that further cuts could create unsafe conditions, delay autopsies (including limiting weekend autopsy work) and raise costs if services were outsourced; commissioners praised his presentation and said it informed budget deliberations.
The full story
Dr. Bloomquist, presenting for the coroner's office, outlined staffing shortages, accreditation status and service impacts from proposed budget reductions. He said the office recently achieved full accreditation and that national shortages in forensic personnel, retirements and an increase in alcohol‑related deaths and suicides are stressing capacity. He warned that if the office "were to collapse or fold overnight" outsourcing death investigations would double to triple costs for Lucas County.
Sign up to keep reading.
Your free newsletter brings you what your city council, county, and school board discussed and decided.
Keep reading for free
Create a free account to finish this story and see the video, transcript and key details.
Continue with GoogleContinue with emailAlready have an account? Log in