The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 on May 6 to approve a revised annual salary of $460,000 for the District 19 medical examiner, effective June 1, 2025. The action implements a multi-county agreement among the four counties that share the District 19 medical examiner service.

The county administrator told the board the $460,000 figure was a compromise reached in a meeting of the four partner counties after an earlier $495,000 request. The administrator said Indian River County's share of the fiscal impact for the upcoming county fiscal year would be about 23.8 percent, roughly $22,100; for the remainder of the current fiscal year the county administrator estimated an additional salary-only budget amendment of $7,822 would be needed if the board approved the increase now.

The discussion was sharply divided. Supporters said the office could lose an experienced medical examiner whose tenure, accreditation work and grant wins had been described as central to timely investigations and courtroom-ready forensic work. Supporters also said partner counties had indicated they would cover any shortfall if Indian River County declined to fund its share, though those counties' internal approvals had not all been final at the time of the commissioners' vote.

Opponents criticized the timing and process by which the increase was presented to the four counties, arguing the request represented a large midyear pay change and would set a higher market benchmark for successor hires. Commissioners who opposed the motion cited concerns about the magnitude of the raise, the structure of negotiations among the partner counties and the impact on taxpayers.

The board took the action as the interlocal agreement that governs District 19 requires all member counties to consent to budget changes that affect the shared office. The county administrator told the board the medical examiner's office had applied for and received more than $380,000 in grants for equipment and electronics and that the incumbent had reduced case backlogs and secured accreditation during her tenure.

The board's approval was recorded as a majority decision. The administrator said staff would process the required budget amendment and return any necessary paperwork to implement the increase. The motion passed by a 3-2 tally; commissioners recorded the result on the record but individual roll-call names were not listed in the vote tally in the transcript.

What happens next: the interlocal agreement remains in force. Partner counties will finalize their internal approvals and staff will process the county budget amendment to reflect the new salary and associated salary-based benefits (Florida Retirement System contributions and related charges).