HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2023 (36)
Resolution No. 36 (2023)
RESOLUTION INCREASING FEES CHARGED BY THE MEDICAL
EXAMINER
COVER MEMO
TO: County Board of Supervisors
FROM: Ken Witt, County Administrator
Heather Amos, Corporation Counsel
DATE: October 3, 2023
AGENDA ITEM: Resolution Increasing Fees Charged by the Medical Examiner
______________________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The St. Croix County Medical Examiner's fees have not increased or kept up with the increased
costs associated with services.
In 2015, then Governor Walker signed a budget bill regarding coroner, medical examiner, or
transportation fees. A moratorium was established on fee increases. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. §
59.365(2), the County Board may increase fees after April 2017. The increases may not exceed
the annual percentage change in the consumer price index as determined by the U.S. department
of labor for the 12 months ending on December 31 of the year before the increase.
Resolution No. 36 (2023)
RESOLUTION INCREASING FEES CHARGED BY THE MEDICAL
EXAMINER
1 WHEREAS, medical examiner costs associated with deaths have increased in St. Croix
2 County each year and are expected to continue to increase; and
3
4 WHEREAS, a budget bill was signed by then Governor Scott Walker on July 10, 2015,
5 which created Wis. Stat. § 59.365, establishing a moratorium on fee increases for services
6 rendered by a coroner, fees for signing of a death certificate by a coroner or medical examiner, or
7 transportation services for a two-year period; and
8
9 WHEREAS, Wis. Stat. § 59.365(1)(a) to (c) states:
10
11 (1) From July 14, 2015, to April 17, 2017, the board may not charge an amount that
12 exceeds the amount that was actually charged on April 17, 2015, for any of the following
13 fees:
14 (a) Fees for services rendered by a coroner or medical examiner.
15 (b) Fees assessed for the signing of a death record by a coroner or medical
16 examiner.
17 (c) Fees assessed related to coroner or medical examiner transportation services.
18
19 ; and
20
21 WHEREAS, Wis. Stat. § 59.365(2) allows for the board to increase fees on or after April
22 18, 2017 specified in sub. (1) (a) to (c). However, any increase may not exceed the annual
23 percentage change in the U.S. consumer price index as determined by the U.S. department of
24 labor, for the 12 months ending on December 31 of the year before the increase; and
25
26 WHEREAS, the 2022 consumer price index increase was 6.5%; and
27
28 WHEREAS, current fees for the St. Croix County Medical Examiner’s services are:
29
30 Death Certificate - $100.00 (family billed by Funeral Home)
31 Cremation - $150.00 (family billed by Funeral Home)
32 Disinterment - $200.00 (family billed by Funeral Home)
33 Scan - $500.00 (Agency billed)
34 Rental for room - $575.00 (Agency billed)
35
36 ; and
37
38 WHEREAS, the increase in fees for the St. Croix County Medical Examiner’s services
39 are:
40
41 Death Certificate - $106.50 (family billed by Funeral Home)
42 Cremation - $159.75 (family billed by Funeral Home)
43 Disinterment - $213.00 (family billed by Funeral Home)
44 Scan - $532.50 (Agency billed)
45 Rental for room - $612.37 (Agency billed)
46
47 ; and
48
49 WHEREAS, medical examiner fees in St. Croix County have not increased since the law
50 was enacted.
51
52 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the St. Croix County Board of
53 Supervisors approves an increase in fees for medical examiner services effective December 31,
st
54 2023, and each year thereafter on December 31 in the amount of the increase of the consumer
55 price index for the previous calendar year.
Legal – Fiscal – Administrative Approvals:
Legal Note:
Fiscal Impact: These revenues will increase each year based on the CPI for the previous year.
09/7/23 Adopted
09/07/23 Public Protection & Judiciary Committee APPROVED
RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] Next: 10/3/2023 5:00 PM
MOVER: Cathy Leaf, Supervisor
SECONDER: Mark Carlson, Supervisor
AYES: Cathy Leaf, Bob Feidler, Mark Carlson, Tim Ramberg
EXCUSED: Paul Adams
Vote Confirmation.
St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Action:
Roll Call - Vote Requirement – Majority of Supervisors Present
RESULT: ADOPTED \[UNANIMOUS\]
MOVER: Bob Feidler, Vice-Chair
SECONDER: Cathy Leaf, Supervisor
AYES: Lind, Anderson, Long, Leaf, Koch, Adams, Berning, Ottino, Feidler, Ostness,
Counter, Hansen, Sherley, Tellijohn, Carlson, Barcalow, Swanepoel, VanSomeren,
Ramberg
This Resolution was Adopted by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors on October 3, 2023
Christine Hines, County Clerk