Marathon County medical examiner office introduces physician-led operations, seeks new pathology fees to offset costs

The Public Safety Committee on Sept. 9 voted to forward a resolution establishing fees for pathology services at Marathon Countys new Forensic Science Center after staff detailed operational changes and revenue needs. "We are currently in full swing with operations at the Forensic Science Center," Dr. Leah Schubner, the countys new chief medical examiner, said, adding the office can now perform forensic and referral-county case work as well as private hospital autopsies.

Staff described a short, intensive startup period: the office onboarded two forensic pathologists (Dr. Schubner and Dr. Kate Schubert), hired a full-time autopsy supervisor, moved into the new facility, launched a database and updated policies and outreach materials. Dr. Schubner said the office has completed roughly 45 autopsies between the two pathologists since the May startup.

Administrator Leonard and forensic staff told the committee that expanded services and staff raise operating costs and that revenue from several fees is needed to reduce the tax-levy impact. Jess (Forensic Science Center staff) described several fees the county seeks to implement or refine: a facility-use fee for tissue-procurement organizations, a transportation fee for moving decedents to the facility for donation, private autopsy fees charged to outside counties or families who request an autopsy, and miscellaneous sliding-scale pathology services. Those fees, staff said, typically would not be charged to Marathon County families except in specified private-request circumstances.

Several fees await state legislative action before they can be implemented or increased. Administrator Leonard and staff said the county is one of 19 in Wisconsin that currently cannot charge a death-certificate signing fee pending state law; if the legislature authorizes it, the county would implement a fee and could increase the cremation-authorization fee from $250 up to $350 under a statutory provision. Staff estimated those two statutory fees together would add about $107,000 in revenue if reinstated and adjusted.

Committee members asked about regional comparability and tax-levy effects. Staff said the proposed fee schedule falls near the middle of counties with physician-led offices; the cremation fee is toward the higher end of peers but is comparable to counties that employ board-certified forensic pathologists. Administrator Leonard said the 2026 budget will likely require a modest increase in levy support for the medical examiners office, currently estimated at about $68,500, while staff work to grow referral volumes and build a non-lapsing reserve to stabilize future funding.

The committee adopted a motion (Jason moved; Deb seconded) to forward the resolution establishing pathology service fees to the County Board. The motion passed with all in favor.