Kentucky coroners push for salary reform through House Bill 138

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WNKY) – County coroners across Kentucky are urging lawmakers to advance House Bill 138, a measure that would create a standardized salary schedule for coroners based on county population and years of service.

Supporters say coroners were excluded from a 1998 law that established salary structures for other constitutional county offices, including sheriffs, county clerks and judge executives. They argue the oversight has led to wide pay disparities across the Commonwealth.

Under the proposed legislation, coroners would be classified as full-time officials and placed on a tiered pay scale similar to other countywide elected offices. The changes would take effect in January 2027, at the start of the next election cycle.

Barren County Coroner Tim Gibson said the bill would raise his salary from about $37,000 to roughly $60,000 annually.

“My projected salary would go to about $60,000 a year, and I’m at $37,000 and some change,” Gibson said. “And like I said, we’re here all the time. We’re on call all the time. You call my coroner phone, I’m going to answer it. We would just like to be compensated in a manner that’s fair.”

Gibson said some coroners in Kentucky make less than $5,000 a year and often maintain second jobs to support themselves.

“I don’t know that anybody could live on $37,000 a year,” he said. “The majority of the coroners have other jobs just to help offset the pay that they’re not receiving for the coroner’s office.”

Hart County Coroner Anthony Roberts said the job requires constant availability, regardless of pay.

“The coroner’s office is not a part-time job,” Roberts said. “I’m on call 24/7, 365 days a year. If I’m on vacation out of state, I still answer my phone. I miss a lot of family events because of the coroner’s office. But that’s the job that I chose to do.”

Roberts said in Hart County, where he earns about $17,000 annually, the bill would increase his salary to around $48,000.

Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn, who also serves as chairperson of the Kentucky Coroners’ Association, said the legislation is about establishing fairness and recognizing the scope of the job.

“When we take the office of coroner, we take it for 24 hours a day and 365 days a year,” Ginn said. “We’re asking for a mandated, fair salary based on population as well as the years of service, just as the other constitutional offices have. We are not part-time.”

Ginn said coroners play a critical role in local government, overseeing death investigations, testifying in court and ensuring accurate death certifications that inform public health data.

“If we don’t do our job right, prosecution suffers,” he said. “Coroners are an essential part of local government.”

Some local officials have raised concerns about the financial impact on county budgets, since coroners’ salaries are funded at the county level. Supporters of the bill argue the increases would bring compensation closer in line with other countywide offices, though still at lower levels.

“We’re not asking for the moon,” Ginn said. “We’re asking for half the salary.”

House Bill 138 is currently assigned to the House Local Government Committee. Supporters say they are urging lawmakers to give the proposal a hearing.

“Bring this thing to committee for a hearing,” Gibson said. “Let the committee make the decision.”

If approved, the new salary structure would begin with officials elected in 2026 taking office in 2027.