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L,� LU <br />t,_ <br />Lq L .; 1 s . k, <br />Board of County <br />Commissioners <br />James Clasby <br />DISTRICT I <br />Larry Leet <br />DISTRICT 2 <br />Vice -Chair <br />Erin Lowry <br />DISTRICT 3 <br />Jamie Fowler <br />DISTRICT 4 <br />Chair <br />Cathy Townsend <br />DISTRICT 5 <br />Administration <br />George Landry <br />COUNTY <br />ADMINISTRATOR <br />Dan McIntyre <br />COUNTY ATTORNEY <br />February 24, 2025 <br />John Titkanich <br />Indian River County Administrator <br />180127th Street <br />Vero Beach, FL 32960 <br />RE: Medical Examiner <br />Dear Mr. Donaldson, <br />The Medical Examiner, as an independent contractor for our District 19 Medical <br />Examiner services, has shared information on the workload and compensation of <br />District 19 versus other Medical Examiner districts. The information is attached for <br />your review as well. <br />For example, our District 19 serves a population of approx. 739k, has a staffing level <br />of 19 and has a Medical Examiner's Salary of $367k. Based upon a survey of Florida <br />Medical Examiners conducted during February 2025, our district performed over 900 <br />autopsies. In comparison the Medical Examiner for District 8, which covers a <br />population of approx. 424k, performed 440 autopsies and established a salary of <br />$510,000 annually for their Medical Examiner. Additionally, the Medical Examiner for <br />District 10, which covers a population of approx. 928k, performed 232 autopsies (less <br />than a third of the autopsies conducted by District 19) and established a salary of <br />$371,000 annually for their Medical Examiner <br />I have reviewed the information provided and the 2023 Annual Report by the Medical <br />Examiners Commission, and it demonstrates the need to re-evaluate the salary of the <br />Medical Examiner and the district staff. I have requested my Human Resources team <br />to conduct a salary study of the entire staff at the Medical Examiner's office to ensure <br />industry standards and equity. This study is also critical to creating an ongoing five (5) <br />year strategic plan for the District 19 office. I believe this will benefit all four of our <br />Counties in planning for future needs. <br />In response to the referenced information, the need to maintain industry salary <br />trends and recent discussions with the Medical Examiner, a salary increase of <br />$127,857 per year along with the benefits that are driven by the salary change is <br />recommended, effective as of June 1, 2025. The distribution of this recommendation <br />is as follows: <br />St. Lucie County (46.41%): $80,320 Full Year/$26,774 FY 25 (4 months) <br />Indian River County (25.27%): $43,734 Full Year/$14,578 FY 25 (4 months) <br />Martin County (21.28%): $36,829 Full Year/$12,276 FY 25 (4 months) <br />Okeechobee County (7.04%): $12,184 Full Year/$4,061 FY 25 (4 months) <br />George I,andry I County Administrator I Administration katrina.slay()y1ludeco.gov <br />2300 Virginia Avenue I Fort Pierce, FL 34982 R.. (772) 462-1156 10 (772) 462-1428 (972) 462-2131 WmAv.stlucieco.gov <br />390 <br />