Board approves $10,000 FY26 amendment after surprise autopsy bills drive up medical‑examiner costs

The Louisa County Board of Supervisors approved a fiscal year 2026 budget amendment (resolution 202627) adding $10,000 to cover unexpected medical examiner and autopsy fees.

Staff told the board that year‑to‑date spending for medical examiner services had climbed to about $35,000 following three unanticipated autopsy bills. Historically, the county paid roughly $17,000–$28,000 per year in recent fiscal years, but this year’s autopsy costs and associated mileage have pushed totals above prior years. Board members clarified that the county pays a fixed stipend for the contracted medical examiner and separately pays per‑call fees, mileage and autopsy charges when incurred.

After a brief public hearing during which staff answered questions about billing practices and whether autopsy costs are a flat fee or variable, supervisors closed the hearing and approved the amendment by motion and second. No additional funding sources or offsets were specified in the record.

Next procedural steps noted in the meeting included signing the amendment documents and moving the amount into the medical examiner line in the FY26 budget.