Board sets Newton County coroner salary at $51,000; debate over per-call pay and staffing

The Newton County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 29 to set the county coroner’s annual salary at $51,000 for the new coroner’s term in office.

County Attorney Patrick Jogstetter explained that a 2019 local act set a $1,000 minimum salary but the General Assembly also authorizes coroners to receive per-investigation fees ($175 per investigation when no coroner’s jury is empaneled, $250 when a jury is empaneled). Jogstetter said that, based on this year’s call volume, a per-call calculation would roughly equal about $46,000 annually if the coroner were paid per call rather than a salary. The newly elected coroner had requested $55,000 in the meeting; after discussion, Commissioner Lindsey moved to set the salary at $51,000, seconded by Commissioner Edwards. The motion passed 4-1.

Commissioners raised staffing and budget issues. Several commissioners noted the coroner’s workload can be substantial — frequent after-hours calls, scene investigations and administrative duties — and asked whether a deputy or assistant would be budgeted; Jogstetter said an assistant or deputy could be funded separately and that deputies often were paid per-call fees. County staff said the operating budget line historically associated with the coroner has been approximately $65,000, although past coroners sometimes did not draw the full amount.

What the vote means: The salary is effective for the coroner’s current term and cannot be reduced during that term. The board can revise pay in future budgets or raise the salary later, but it cannot lower the salary mid-term.