Montgomery County Legislature amends coroner budget and appoints county coroner

On Jan. 7, 2025, the Montgomery County Legislature voted to amend the county’s 2025 operating budget for the Office of the County Coroner and then adopted a separate resolution appointing a county coroner.

The budget amendment, sponsored by Legislator Chad Majewski and seconded by Legislator Wilson, added a position/training funding line for the coroner’s office. During discussion legislators and staff said the county cannot advertise or post a coroner position until money exists in the line. A staff representative said the office’s training line was at zero and that a newly appointed coroner would need to attend required coroner training before taking the role.

Legislator Bridal Sweet questioned funding a position when no one is currently in it. Majewski and other legislators said setting the line gives the county flexibility to hire or contract when a candidate is found. County staff noted that past contracted coverage for coroner services had cost about $3,500 and that prior planning had considered expense estimates of roughly $5,500; during discussion a specific transfer amount of $4,999 was mentioned as one funding option to establish the line.

County Coroner Tim Riley had resigned effective Dec. 31, 2024, a development legislators cited as the near-term reason for the budget action. Sheriff Smith said the county’s geographic size and response needs make having more than one coroner important; he warned that when there is an incident “it takes upwards of an hour, hour and a half, 2 hours, it really becomes problematic.”

Legislators also discussed whether coroner services should be provided by county employees or contracted providers. The legislature passed the budget amendment in order to permit posting or contracting once a hiring or contracting decision and any needed transfers of fund balance are completed. During the meeting staff said that if the legislature approves the appropriation it would likely be funded from fund balance unless the county executive authorized a transfer from another line.

After the budget amendment passed, the legislature also adopted a resolution to appoint a county coroner. The text of the appointment resolution and the name of the appointee were included in the meeting packet; the legislature approved the appointment by voice vote and recorded the resolution as passed.

The budget amendment and appointment were taken as discrete actions: the first created the budget authority needed to post or contract for coroner coverage; the second filled the office following Riley’s resignation.

The legislature’s action leaves further administrative steps — posting the position, completing training, or finalizing a contract — to staff and to any required executive approvals.