JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A month after a News4Jax report that the Duval County morgue was having to turn bodies away because of the opioid epidemic, the county medical examiner went before the mayor's office to request more money in her budget.
The Medical Examiner's Office asked Monday for $4.5 million for the next fiscal year.
In 2015, the Medical Examiner's Office saw 201 overdose deaths. In 2016, that number more than doubled to 464.
The cost of one autopsy is $3,000 and that price tag does not include expensive toxicology tests to confirm an overdose. According to Dr. Valerie Rao, the morgue is running out of space.
Rao said every week is different but her office is still seeing the impact of drug overdoses with an overwhelming number of bodies. She said their focus right now is having the proper staff and that's reflected in her budget request.
The Medical Examiner’s Office is asking for $4,386,788 for the 2017-18 fiscal year.
They also want $206,000 for new equipment, an autopsy supervisor, a forensic photographer, a record keeper and a forensic investigator changed from part to full time.
Despite the increase, the budget review board said the Medical Examiner’s Office request is going on the short list and Rao left the meeting hopeful.
Her budget request reflects a $1 million increase over the last four years:
- FY 16-17: $4,037,394
- FY 15-16: $3,920,006
- FY 14-15: $3,469,277
The Medical Examiner’s Office will find out in a month if its budget is approved when the mayor presents the final budget on July 17.