Kootenai County commissioners review FY26 budgets for coroner, prosecuting attorney; public raises pension and vacancy-funding concerns

Coequal review: Kootenai County Board of Commissioners on June 17 reviewed proposed FY26 budgets for the county coroner and the prosecuting attorney, focusing on modest line-item increases, costs tied to taking on a county-owned building and one-time equipment and travel needs.

The coroner, Dr. Duke Johnson, told commissioners the proposed coroner budget centers on three items: continuing an on-call pay program begun midyear, new operating costs tied to assuming responsibility for the Pierce Clague Building, and modest outreach and advertising to invite coroners from other North Idaho offices to tour a planned county autopsy facility. "So that's really all that we've added to our budget," Dr. Johnson said. "It's a very small change overall."

The coroner's presentation included specific line items: continuation of on-call pay that was adopted midyear at $5,000 and is proposed at $13,000 for a full year (an increase of about $8,000 compared with the adopted midyear figure); $3,000 for computer supplies for a part-time visiting medical examiner; an increase of about $3,600 in janitorial services tied to the Pierce Clague Building; $2,000 for local meetings and expos to invite other North Idaho coroners…