County adopts $50 cremation‑certificate fee; court also approves $10,000 DA salary supplement

Two personnel and fee decisions drew votes from the Commissioner's Court on April 13.

The court approved a $50 cremation‑certificate fee proposed by Dr. Mario Rasone, El Paso County’s medical examiner. Staff said the fee covers administrative review of death certificates, verification of circumstances and issuance of cremation authorizations as authorized by Article 49.25, sec. 13A of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures. Dr. Rasone and county staff noted that most Texas jurisdictions charge a similar fee (median roughly $35) and that El Paso issues about 4,500 such permits annually; the fee is set to take effect July 1, 2026.

Separately, the court authorized the District Attorney’s Office to use Chapter 59 funds for a $10,000 salary supplement through the remainder of FY2026 for an assistant district attorney (Katrina Yala) who the DA said is covering work left by recent separations. The DA told the court that the employee is performing an unusually heavy caseload and that the request is temporary through the fiscal year while the office promotes from within and continues recruitment; commissioners approved the supplement by majority vote.

Both items were presented with background and legal review from county staff and the county attorney’s office.

What’s next: The cremation‑certificate fee will be implemented July 1, 2026, per staff presentation; the DA’s supplement is limited through the remainder of FY2026 and funding transfers for the supplement were authorized by the court.