Recommended Budget Volume One.book - Chief Executive Office ...

Coroner
Anthony T. Hernandez, Director/Dr. L. Sathyavagiswaran, CME - Coroner
Coroner Budget Summary
CORONER BUDGET SUMMARY
Mission Statement
The Department of Coroner is mandated by law to inquire into
and determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of all
violent, sudden, or unusual deaths occurring within
Los Angeles County, including all homicides, suicides,
accidental deaths, and natural deaths where the decedent has
not seen a physician within 20 days prior to death.
2011-12 Budget Message
The 2011-12 Recommended Budget reflects a net County cost
decrease of $511,000 primarily due to the elimination of
1.0 vacant budgeted position needed to address the County’s
projected structural deficit in fiscal year (FY) 2011-12,
elimination of the costs associated with the 1994 Pension
Obligation Bonds, and a decrease in deferred compensation
plan costs, partially offset by increases in funding to implement
a custodial services contract, transfer management of lab
personal computers to the Internal Services Department (ISD),
and Board-approved increases in health insurance subsidies.
The Department’s budget also reflects an increase of $213,000
in services and supplies needed to address unavoidable costs
increases in fuel, equipment maintenance, and household
expense, partially offset by a decrease in insurance claims and
lease financing costs. In addition, the Department anticipates
CORONER
Budget Summaries
FY 2009-10 FY 2010-11 FY 2010-11 FY 2011-12 FY 2011-12 CHANGE FROM
CLASSIFICATION ACTUAL ESTIMATED BUDGET REQUESTED RECOMMENDED BUDGET
FINANCING USES
SALARIES & EMPLOYEE BENEFITS $ 23,292,723.06 $ 22,966,000 $ 23,017,000 $ 27,117,000 $ 22,635,000 $ (382,000)
SERVICES & SUPPLIES 4,143,174.54 4,986,000 5,284,000 6,917,000 5,608,000 324,000
OTHER CHARGES 690,960.04 750,000 855,000 648,000 648,000 (207,000)
CAPITAL ASSETS - EQUIPMENT 0.00 0 0 295,000 0 0
GROSS TOTAL $ 28,126,857.64 $ 28,702,000 $ 29,156,000 $ 34,977,000 $ 28,891,000 $ (265,000)
INTRAFUND TRANSFERS (427,820.59) (120,000) (120,000) (100,000) (100,000) 20,000
NET TOTAL $ 27,699,037.05 $ 28,582,000 $ 29,036,000 $ 34,877,000 $ 28,791,000 $ (245,000)
REVENUE 1,946,232.75 2,056,000 2,205,000 2,471,000 2,471,000 266,000
NET COUNTY COST $ 25,752,804.30 $ 26,526,000 $ 26,831,000 $ 32,406,000 $ 26,320,000 $ (511,000)
BUDGETED POSITIONS 209.0 204.0 204.0 257.0 203.0 (1.0)
FUND FUNCTION ACTIVITY
GENERAL FUND PUBLIC PROTECTION OTHER PROTECTION
an increase in revenue of $266,000 for the transportation and
handling of decedents and online document sales, which fully
offset cost increases in workers’ compensation, long-term
disability (LTD) and retiree health. The retirement of the 1994
Pension Obligation Bonds reflects both a reduction in funding
and expense. This funding is no longer required because this
debt obligation has been fully paid. Elimination of this funding
and its equivalent expense does not impact the Department’s
operating budget.
Critical/Strategic Planning Initiatives
Despite the difficult economic conditions, the Coroner’s
Strategic Plan continues to focus on the delivery of effective
and compassionate services to the public. Construction of the
new 500-body capacity crypt facility is complete, which has
dramatically improved the need for decedent storage. This
triggers the next phase of this goal, which is the renovation of
the existing biological building (1104 North Mission Road). This
will address critical needs to improve the efficiency of the
biological building, create additional doctor and autopsy
space, and improve the health and safety of employees. The
Department is progressing towards its goal of implementing a
DNA Laboratory, which will provide Coroner decedent
identifications and market services to the public and outside
agencies. With the final selection of the Sorenson Forensic
FY 2011-12 Recommended Budget Volume One 17.1 County of Los Angeles