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OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER <br />DISTRICT 19 <br />2500 South 35th Street — Fort Pierce, Fl, 34981-5573 <br />(772) 464-7378 - Fax (772) 464-2409 Linda Rush O'Neil, M.D. <br />Associate Medical Examiner <br />Roger E. Mittleman, M.D. <br />Chief Medical Examiner <br />March 21, 2018 <br />Mr. Mike Smykowski <br />Director of Management & Budget <br />Board of County Commissioners <br />Indian River County <br />1840 25h Street <br />Vero Beach, FL 32960-3365 <br />Dear Mr. Smykowski: <br />Shanedelle Norford, M.D. <br />Associate Medical Examiner <br />I am submitting the District 19 Medical Examiners fiscal year 2018-2019 budget to the Indian <br />River County Board of County Commissioners for approval. <br />Last year we requested two support staff positions and were only approved for one position for <br />nine months of the year. Therefore, this year we are asking for approval of the additional <br />position that was not approved last year. Please note that we have decided to re -align some of <br />the administrative duties being performed by the Investigators that will allow us to request a <br />Medical Records Clerk position instead of a Medical Examiner Investigator. This decision will <br />lessen the financial impact of the counties. As stressed in previous years, because of the <br />increased workload, we will need more supportive staff to continue to grow the office's capacity <br />to meet the ongoing and future needs for every county we serve. Also, please take into <br />consideration that we are only two and a half months into the year and our workload is <br />already approximately nine percent more compared to this time last year. <br />Other reasons for the budgetary increase include operating expenses. These expenses primarily <br />include body transport, and toxicological services (Wuesthoff Laboratories). The increase is <br />primarily the result of the anticipated workload increase due to population growth and tourism, <br />accidental drug deaths and the required detection and quantification of emerging drugs of abuse <br />and interest, such as fentanyl, fentanyl analogs and cannabinoids. We are also including an <br />anticipated nine percent increase in health insurance, a three percent cola for all employees <br />except the new Associate Medical Examiner, an approximate four percent increase for the new <br />Associate Medical Examiner and a new microscope for the new Associate Medical Examiner. <br />104 <br />SERVING ...INDIAN RIVER, MARTIN, �..—,'HOBEE AND ST. LUCIE COUNTIES <br />