To: Board of Supervisors
From: Sheriff
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
SUBJECT:
title
Appropriation Transfer Request from General Fund Contingencies for Coroner's Office Autopsy Services for Fiscal Year 2026-27 in the Amount of $72,872 (4/5 Vote Required)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve an appropriation transfer from General Fund contingencies to the Coroner's Office (1100-272) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 in the amount of $72,872 for autopsy/pathology services (4/5 Vote Required).
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board's Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
On June 16, 2026, your Board approved the Professional Services Agreement with Bennet Omalu Pathology, NorCal Inc. for full-service autopsy/pathology services for the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) - Coroner Division and directed staff to return in FY 2026-27 for a budget adjustment in the amount of $72,872 funded by a one-time general fund contribution from contingencies.
The contract with Bennet Omalu Pathology is full-service for forensic and non-forensic autopsies, medical reviews, and pathology. Historically, the Coroner Division has contracted with multiple vendors for these services. For FY 2026-27, from the allocated general fund contribution, the Coroner Division budgeted $31,000 for pathology, $130,000 for non-forensic autopsies, and $136,128 for forensic autopsies for a total of $297,128. With the new contract, the Coroner Division would only utilize Bennet Omalu Pathology for these services resulting in the $297,128 going towards the new contract. An additional $380,000 of general fund appropriations from other HCSO budget units' general fund allocation has been moved to the Coroner Division budget to help cover the cost of this contract, for a total of $677,128 of existing general fund a...
Click here for full text