Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Coroner and emergency staff press for larger budgets, truck, radios and a UTV as county weighs costs
Summary
During budget hearings county public-safety staff flagged higher autopsy costs, requested a replacement truck and cot-mounting equipment (~$53,000), asked to add ~$18,000 for radio equipment and received a $40,000 allocation for a requested UTV; commissioners discussed options and asked staff for quotes.
Public-safety and emergency management staff used the budget hearing to flag several equipment and operating needs. The coroner/medical examiner reported that year-to-date autopsy-related costs had exceeded the department’s FY27 proposed professional-services allocation and asked for an increase (staff discussed moving professional services to roughly $30,000 for a cushioning estimate). "We've done 38 deaths for the year. I've done 9 autopsies," the agency official reported while urging a higher budget line for autopsy expenses.
The coroner/agency official also described the need for a replacement vehicle and associated equipment (truck, topper and cot mounting), which staff estimated at about $53,000, and commissioners discussed adding roughly $18,000 for radio upgrades to improve communications in remote areas. Emergency management staff requested a four-seat UTV and trailer for response and mutual-aid work; one commissioner said he would place $40,000 in fixed assets for the UTV. Commissioners asked staff to provide vendor quotes and indicated budget adjustments would be considered before the September budget adoption.
