Request By:
Mr. Leslie A. Henderson, Sr.
Carter County Coroner
Drawer A
Olive Hill, Kentucky 41164
Opinion
Opinion By: Steven L. Beshear, Attorney General; By: Charles W. Runyan, Assistant Deputy Attorney General
You ask about expenses of the coroner's office.
The salary of a coroner is dealt with in KRS 64.185. A monthly minimum salary is based upon the county population. The holder of a current certificate of continuing education involves a higher monthly minimum salary, but it is based upon county population.
Where the coroner has employed stenographic services in an inquest, payment must be made by fiscal court. KRS 72.420.
Where the coroner finds it necessary to order a body to be transported or exhumed, payment shall be made by the fiscal court. KRS 72.435.
A coroner, having possession of a dead body or part thereof, and where the next of kin or spouse cannot be found, he may cause the body to be buried at the expense of the fiscal court. KRS 72.450.
Where a search for a body is ordered by the coroner, the expense shall be paid by fiscal court. KRS 72.455.
The cost of autopsies shall be paid by fiscal court. KRS 72.460.
Under KRS 72.415, the coroner has the authority to spend county funds for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of KRS 72.410 to 72.470 (Coroners Act of 1978). The fiscal court must pay all reasonable expenses incurred by the coroner in carrying out his responsibilities under the provisions of KRS 72.410 to 72.470.
Thus, in addition to specific statutory treatment of expenses, above, the general policy of the fiscal court's responsibility for paying all reasonable expenses incurred by the coroner in carrying out his duties as coroner is explicitly expressed in KRS 72.415(1).
In connection with your expenses breakdown, including mileage, film and developing, urine kits, office space and equipment, blood syringes, telephone service, various forms, letterheads and envelopes, training school expense, and assuming that those expenses were necessary in carrying out your duties as coroner, and assuming that they are reasonable expenses, the fiscal court is required to pay such expenses from a properly budgeted fund.