Jones County raises deputy‑coroner per‑call pay to $2.50, adds $100 daily on‑call fee

Jones County commissioners voted Sept. 2 to increase the deputy‑coroner per‑death‑call rate from $1.75 to $2.50 and to add a $100 per‑day on‑call fee for deputy coroners. The board discussed the item following a presentation that used a five‑year average of calls to estimate the budget impact.

Wayne Greer, a deputy coroner who spoke to the board, described the workload of coroners and deputies and said the $1.75 per‑call rate had been unchanged for roughly 34 years. Greer said the new level “gets us to where we were paying ... 34 years ago” in purchasing‑power terms and argued deputies were due more equitable compensation for the time involved in many calls.

Jason Martin, a county staff member, said staff used a five‑year average of about 95 calls per year to estimate costs and that the county could identify funds in the budget if the board chose to increase the line item. Staff presented the state legislature’s proposal that would have set a $2.50 minimum per death call and a $100 per‑day on‑call fee, but noted the proposal died in a senate committee.

Commissioners moved, seconded and approved the increase by voice vote. The board clarified that the elected coroner would not be eligible for the $100 daily on‑call payment because the coroner receives a county salary, but the elected coroner would be eligible to collect the $2.50 per‑call payment for working a death call.

Staff estimated the change would increase departmental costs by roughly $34,000 based on the five‑year call average; the board asked staff to identify or reallocate funds within the county budget to cover the increase.