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Lowndes County Coroner Terrell Means appeared before county commissioners on Sept. 23 to set wheels in motion toward an increase in both salary and budget for his office.

Means requested the commission consider a resolution, the first step in the legal process for granting the hoped-for increase. While he did not name an amount, Means did ask commissioners to consider the expenses required to perform the duties of a coroner.

“I’m asking for an increase in salary, along with budget,” Means said. “Everything is going up.”

Means explained that recently he ordered body bags and paid $875 for six bags. With a budget of $1,000, and only three bags left from last year, the coroner expects to need more to satisfy the average annual need of roughly 12 per year. 

Each Alabama county coroner’s budget and salary are approved by the state legislature, Means said. Securing a resolution from the commission must take place before lawmakers will consider an increase.

Means said he hopes for a budget adjustment to at least $2,500 annually. In addition, he has asked commissioners to approve a salary increase from $14,400 to $18,000 per year, paid in equal monthly installments.

The commission took no action on the coroner’s request, but did ask that he send detailed information to County Administrator Jacquelyn Thomas.