Medical examiner seeks additional half-time to full-time position amid lower autopsy spending

County staff reported the medical examiner has requested converting a half-time position to full time, which contributes to higher net wages and fringe costs in that cost center. "They're asking for their halftime position to go to full time... So there's an extra 0.5 FTE in there," staff said, and noted the request is one of the decisions to be determined for the final budget.

Staff also said the budget shows a decrease in autopsy-related operating costs compared with prior years and suggested the change may reflect different practices by the new medical examiner, including reliance on other investigative tools. A supervising member asked whether fewer deceased people or fewer autopsies caused the decline; staff responded the reduction appears tied to lower outside autopsy spending and changed practices.