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Bannock County coroner budgets for building work, small rise in autopsy costs
Summary
The Bannock County coroner’s office proposed a budget that keeps most line items steady, adds $300,000 for building costs and anticipates a 4.8% increase in professional services largely for autopsy and toxicology fees; vehicle replacement remains on the usual cycle for fiscal 2027.
JR Farnsworth, chief deputy coroner, told the Bannock County Commissioners that the office’s proposed budget is largely unchanged except for a planned building expense and modest increases in professional services.
“Highlights are I mean, overall, budget pretty well stayed the same other than we had total increase in, 4.8 increase in for professional services and operating supply,” Farnsworth said, noting the professional-services increase covers autopsy and toxicology work. He added that a substantial jump in the total budget—about 103%—reflects the inclusion of building costs.
The coroner’s office budgeted $300,000 for building work in the coming fiscal year, Farnsworth said, and “whatever won't get used, we'll roll forward.” He said the office put that estimate into the budget based on figures already reviewed with county staff.
Farnsworth confirmed the 4.8% rise in professional services reflects likely higher autopsy and toxicology costs next year. When asked whether autopsy volume is expected to change, he said the office assumed roughly flat demand and noted recent years’ spending on autopsies and related services has been “very close” to the amounts budgeted.
The office raised vehicle reliability as an operational concern but said it plans to keep current vehicles on the regular replacement schedule rather than request an earlier swap. Farnsworth said the vehicle scheduled to cycle out will do so in fiscal 2027 and the office intends to wait until that scheduled replacement, unless problems force an earlier action.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about how close current autopsy spending is to budgeted amounts and about contingency plans if a transport vehicle fails; Farnsworth described the situation as manageable but noted the lack of spare vehicles creates operational risk during transports.
No formal actions or votes on the coroner budget were recorded in the transcript excerpt provided.
A copy of the coroner’s line-item budget shows the main changes are the building allocation and the 4.8% lift for professional services; other operating and supply items were held close to current levels.
