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Council approves coroner deputy reclassification; office reports extra morgue-fee revenue
Summary
The council approved reclassifying a coroner position to Deputy Coroner (PEP 5) after officials said the office is short-staffed. Coroner staff reported higher out-of-county morgue fees are already bringing in revenue.
The Personnel/Finance Committee approved a reclassification request for the coroner’s office to change a deputy coroner title and classification to PEP 5. Coroner staff described the present deputy position as underpaid relative to duties and said the office is short-staffed.
“We are so short staffed ... that new coroner's office can't be built soon enough. It is desperately needed,” Amy Miller told the council while describing operational strain and overtime spending. She said the coroner’s office had exhausted much of a $20,000 overtime allocation, using about $17,000 already.
Coroner staff also said the office increased its out-of-county morgue-fee from $100 to $300 and collected about $2,100 in that first month after the change; additional expected revenue may offset some personnel costs. The reclassification was supported by council members and passed unanimously.
Council members thanked coroner staff, noted the operational pressures, and discussed the need for the planned new coroner facility. The motion approved the reclassification; the salary adjustment associated with the classification will be reflected in payroll and the county’s salary ordinance as required.
