To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: John Christofferson, Acting County Attorney
Prepared By:
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John Christofferson, Acting County Attorney
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presenter
Presenter: Dr. Casey Bitting, Forensic Pathologist, Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office
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Subject:
title
3:30 PM *Arapahoe County Coroner Compensation - Elected Term
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this Report is to discuss a request from the Arapahoe Coroner, Dr. Casey Bitting, to set the total compensation for her first full term of office beginning January 12, 2027 and ending January 14, 2031, pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the Board of County Commissioners and Dr. Bitting.
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Alignment with Strategic Plan: Good Governance - Deliver mandated and essential services with excellence.
Background and Discussion: Dr. Bitting was elected to the Office of Arapahoe County Coroner for a four-year term. The salary for a Coroner for Dr. Bitting’s upcoming term is currently set by the legislature at $158,669.00. Pursuant to state statute, the County may pay additional compensation to a coroner, such as Dr. Bitting, who is a certified forensic pathologist and who performs post-mortem examinations. Dr. Bitting has proposed that her total yearly compensation, inclusive of both her statutory salary and an additional amount for her services in performing post-mortem examinations, be increased to an amount based on a starting salary that is increased annually by 3% and then dividing the total four-year amount by four and having the same annual compensation amount for each of the four years.
Year 1 $364,666.67
Year 2 $375,606.67 (Yr 1 x 3%)
Year 3 $386,874.86 (Yr 2 x 3%)
Year 4 $398,481.11 (Yr 3 x 3%)
4-Year Total: $1, 525,629.31divided by 4 = $381,407.25 per year
According to the information provided by Dr. Bitting, this amount is consistent with the market rate for other similarly experienced coroners and medical examiners.
Attached is a draft MOU for consideration that memorializes the relationship between the Board of County Commissioners and the Coroner. This MOU describes the duties that will be performed by Dr. Bitting in exchange for the yearly compensation amount, and also has provisions permitting Dr. Bitting to use County facilities to perform certain services for outside clients, in exchange for the payment of certain fees and reimbursements to the County.
Alternatives: The BOCC could elect to not pay the additional compensation, or to negotiate some other arrangement.
Fiscal Impact: The amount that Coroner Dr. Bitting is paid will increase to $381,407.25 per year for her first 4-year term.
Alignment with Strategic Implementation Strategies: N/A.
Staff Recommendation: N/A.
Concurrence: N/A.