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Committee approves CPI‑linked increases to medical examiner fees, effective Oct. 1
Summary
The committee approved a resolution to increase medical examiner fees effective Oct. 1 and to apply annual CPI adjustments for up to five years; the motion passed by voice vote (motion carries).
County staff presented a resolution to adjust medical examiner (coroner) fees that have not been updated in several years. Staff said federal/state limits had constrained increases previously and that the proposed resolution sets a CPI‑linked schedule to implement modest annual increases for five years and then revisit the schedule.
"What this resolution does is increases the fees effective October 1 to the CPI for last year of 3.4, and then we would increase line 17… and then result in an annual increase in January of every year for the next 5 years by the allowable annual CPI increase," staff explained.
A motion to approve the fee changes was made and seconded; the committee approved the resolution by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The resolution authorizes an annual CPI adjustment for up to five years and includes a five‑year sunset provision so the board can revisit fee levels.
Committee members said the change brings fees more in line with peer counties and helps recover costs for cremation release and other examiner services that have not been updated for several years. The committee recorded the motion as carried and will forward the resolution to meet budget timing and statutory notice requirements.
The committee did not change statutory limits; staff noted the increases comply with the state constraint tying fee adjustments to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
