Coroners argue a nearly 30-year-old state law excluded their professional when setting state-guaranteed pay scales, leaving their pay a matter of local control.
Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn testified that the result has been widely varying paychecks across the state, depending on the county. Ginn said coroners are seeking a "mandated fair salary scale" based on population and years of service, similar to other constitutional offices.
"Coroners are full-time employees of their government. We're not asking for the moon, but a fair scale salary similar to salary scales of the judge-executive, sheriff, county clerk, and jailer," he told a panel overseeing local government.
But others see the coroner position differently, arguing there are key variables that set them apart.
"If every county had the same workload, financial resources, and operation demands, perhaps a statewide compensation would make sense. But that's simply not the case across Kentucky," Union County Judge-Executive Adam O'Nan said.
A previously considered bill would have put the coroners in line with other constitutional offices, with nine different pay scales, but the proposal did not gain traction.