Most people don’t think about their county coroner every day.
That’s a blessing. If you’re face to face with a coroner, chances are you’re not having a good day.
But the coroner’s job - more specifically, the coroner’s salary - has become a subject of debate in both Benton and Washington counties.
As the two counties have grown in recent years, the coroner’s schedule has become increasingly busy, and the need for someone in that position who knows what he’s doing has become increasingly vital.
Daniel Oxford, Benton County coroner, earns $45,600. He hasn’t received a raise since 2009. The Benton County Quorum Court is considering raisinghis pay by $12,000 for 2012.
Roger Morris, Washington County coroner, earns $48,990.
Pending final approval by the county’s Quorum Court, Morris stands to receive a $12,247 raise next year. One shouldn’t be surprised if this changes, however, because the Quorum Court’s stance on this matter has been more volatile than the stock market. Originally, justices of the peace were considering a $35,000 raise for Morris. They reducedthat to $16,000 before cutting it again to $12,247.
Even that, however, is pretty good for a position that only two years ago was a part-time job.
Morris claims he never asked for a raise. Whether he did or not doesn’t matter to me; you can’t blame a guy for asking, anyway. What matters is what’s appropriate for the position.
These pending raises - about 25 percent for both Oxford and Morris - might seem a bit much to the rest of us. If you’re getting a 25 percent raise next year, congratulations;
you’re in a small club.
On the other hand, we’re not talking about unskilled laborers here.
The only requirements to be a coroner in this state is to be at least 18 years old, to live in the countyyou serve, and to get the most votes in an election.
But I think we can all agree our coroner should have qualifications and skills that exceed those of your average high school graduate.
And, if that’s our demand, then we have to put up the money that makes the position attractive to bona fide professionals.
The coroner’s job takes a special set of skills and interests. It’s the rare person who is willing to be on call at all hours to go investigate one or more deaths involving potentially gruesome circumstances.
Car wrecks, homicides, suicides - a coroner must be ready for anything.
It’s a stressful job, as Morris explained in a 2009 Northwest Arkansas Times story.
“My day starts - wellreally there’s no time when it stops,” Morris said. “My phone doesn’t stop ringing from 8 a.m. on. When I try to leave the office for the day, I’ll get three or four calls before I even get home. There’s some nights where it even gets to the point that after two or three late nights in a row, I’ll just sleep on the sofa.
And that’s out of respect to my family because I don’t want to always be waking them up.”
Even if Morris was exaggerating a bit, I’m convinced that I wouldn’t want his job. Would you?
Northwest Arkansas is fortunate to have a couple of very good coroners in Morris and Oxford. Both have raised the standards of professionalism during their tenures. Oxford, for example, has attained a certificate of accreditationfrom the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners.
We should want to retain that kind of professionalism in the coroner’s office after Oxford and Morris leave.
So then, what’s an appropriate salary? Though other coroners make substantially less than ours do, the Pulaski County coroner earns $77,000.
I am not certain Benton and Washington counties should pay that much, but it seems to me that the pay should be closer to $80,000 than $40,000.
I also think the coroner should not be an elected position, but rather one appointed by the county judge. But that’s a whole other topic for debate.
DAVE PEROZEK IS AN EDITORIAL WRITER FOR NORTHWEST ARKANSAS NEWSPAPERS.
Opinion, Pages 17 on 12/04/2011