The Marathon County Executive Committee voted to forward an updated fee schedule for the Marathon County Forensic Science Center to the full county board after staff described several new and adjusted charges authorized by recent state legislation.

Jess, director of operations for the Forensic Science Center, told the committee the governor signed legislation allowing counties to establish a death‑certificate signing fee and to revise other medical‑examiner fees. "We would like to increase our cremation authorization fee from $283 to $350 and establish a death certificate signing fee for $100," Jess said. The proposal also adds an administrative sliding fee (a $20–$500 scale) to recover staff time in complex cases; a variable transport fee (up to $800) to cover more complex or longer responses; and increases to private autopsy fees by $500 to align with medical‑autopsy levels and to cover toxicology costs when applicable.

Jess said the two fee changes most likely to affect revenue in the near term are the cremation authorization increase and the $100 death‑certificate signing fee, which she estimated would bring in approximately $107,000 annually and help offset the cost of operating with two in‑house forensic pathologists. Administrator Leonard added the fee updates were time‑sensitive because the governor signed the enabling legislation after the Public Safety committee had met, and statute requires the county board to set medical examiner fees.

A committee member moved to approve the changes and forward the resolution to the full county board; Supervisor Arstad seconded the motion and the committee approved it.

Next steps: The resolution will be considered by the full Marathon County Board for final adoption; staff said the schedule allows potential fee adjustments in 2027 if necessary under the new statutory authority.