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Medical examiner predicts contract increase and higher transport fees as caseload grows
Summary
Tracy Daugherty, Parker County medical examiner, said the Tarrant County medical examiner contract is estimated to increase about 7% (~$31,000) and transport fees are rising from $2.95 to $3.95 per decedent, with county projected to exceed 1,000 deaths in 2025—pushing the transport line toward roughly $75,000.
Tracy Daugherty, the county medical examiner, introduced staff and described budget changes driven by increases in the outsourced medical examiner contract and transport fees. She said Tarrant County estimated a roughly 7% contract increase raising last year's $459,009 figure toward about $498,803 and that local transport vendor pickup costs are increasing to $3.95 per decedent from $2.95. "With the number of bodies projected that we may have next year, we're looking at, like, a 190 bodies times the $3.95 ... so that amount would go from 52,000 to 75,000 for that contract," Daugherty said.
Daugherty also requested a modest continuing part‑time clerk and noted she has four full‑time investigators covering the county. She said the department is trying to control costs (switching to in‑house training where possible, sourcing lights and minor vehicle outfitting at lower cost) but the combination of contract inflation and a projected rise in cases (about 977 in 2024, projected >1,000 in 2025) makes a budget bump likely and will be reviewed by the budget committee.
