Commissioners consider coroner-law change

RITZVILLE – An upcoming change in state law has prompted Adams County officials to take a look at how a coroner is selected.

During the Aug. 8 Adams County commissioner meeting, Prosecuting Attorney Randy Flyckt discussed changes to Revised Code of Washington 36.16.030 will require the county to hire or elect a coroner.

As the law currently stands, in counties with a population of less than 40,000, the prosecuting attorney may serve as an “ex-officio” county coroner, performing some of the legal functions of coroners.

As of July 1, 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of Adams County at 20,961.

“The current arrangement dates back to the 1880s territorial legislature, before Washington became a state,” Flyckt said.

The new version of the statute changes that arrangement.

Starting in 2025, the election of a county coroner is the default requirement.

Nevertheless, the statute provides two alternatives for smaller counties:

Commissioners may appoint a coroner. They would oversee the position and its associated department, much like their oversight of a central services or public works crew.

Or they may enter into an interlocal agreement for coroner and/or medical examiner services with an adjoining county.

Flyckt noted that unless the board decides to appoint a coroner prior to the filing week of May 2024, the county auditor must allow people to file for this position in the 2024 general election.

And the county would pick up the tab.

Flyckt said the budgetary impact of this new arrangement may not be as severe as it might first appear.

“There’s nothing in the statute that prevents a coroner from using some of the same resources we’ve used as an ex-officio coroner,” he said.

For example, the coroner could contract with local funeral homes for pickup and removal of bodies, morgue services, and transportation to autopsy sites, he said.

“What neighboring counties have coroners,” Commissioner Dan Blankenship asked.

Grant, Whitman and Franklin counties have coroners, according to Flyckt. Lincoln and Adams counties don’t.

Spokane County also has a coroner.

Commissioner Mike Garza asked about the potential workload for an Adams County coroner.

“There’s a fair amount of paperwork,” Flyckt said. “We only do autopsies on a small percentage of deaths, but other deaths that don’t fall under the coroner’s jurisdiction still require follow-up with physicians.”

He said even if the board appoints a coroner, the prosecuting attorney’s office might provide administrative support, at least initially.

He stressed that having an elected coroner is the default arrangement.

“If the board does nothing, the county auditor will be required to set a filing date and relevant fees based on an already-established salary minimum,” he said.

Flyckt suggested the board consider and prioritize their options.

For example, if the board wants to set up an interlocal agreement, it should designate one commissioner to reach out to an adjoining county. Based on the feedback received, the board might then make an informed decision about potential costs and steps going forward.

There are pluses and minuses with either an elected or appointed coroner, according to Flyckt. For example, an appointed coroner would serve at the pleasure of the board. But he cautioned, “If things are not going well, you as a board will have ultimate responsibility.”

With an independently-elected official, the board’s oversight would involve budgetary issues only. The elected coroner would be answerable to the voters and subject to four-year election terms.

Flyckt then addressed potential costs.

“There isn’t a lot of comparable information for coroner positions in counties of our size. The closest comparable salary may be Stevens County,” he said.

Records indicate that salary alone for the Stevens County coroner — excluding the costs of support staff, office space, and benefits — totaled $79,000 as of last October.

“When you talk to other counties, you want to get some idea of the costs involved,” Flyckt said. “If everyone is quoting $150,000 or $200,000 for this position, you could use that information to establish a line item for a coroner position in next year’s budget.

“It’s really unfortunate that the Legislature imposed this requirement on small counties without providing some ‘seed funds’ to get this up and running. This will take a huge bite out of the county’s current expense fund.”