HAMILTON COUNTY, Ohio — While lawmakers are on break at the statehouse, a group of coroners are speaking out against the latest version of the proposed state budget. They say a hidden change in the bill could end up impacting investigations.

What You Need To Know

  • The version of the state budget that House lawmakers passed earlier this week says coroners in Ohio would not be elected by voters but appointed by county leaders
  • Coroner’s from Butler, Clermont, Highland, Warren and Hamilton counties are all saying this change could influence death rulings
  • Coroners say they will continue to talk to different lawmakers to push back against the bill

In a news conference Tuesday, Hamilton County’s coroner said what’s in a new spending bill would be a change for the worse.

“A 5,100-page budget bill that snuck in some legislation and some language that eliminates an elected position," said Hamilton County Coroner Lakshmi Kode Sammarco.

The version of the state budget that House lawmakers passed earlier this week said coroners in Ohio would not be elected by voters but appointed by county leaders.

“Our position should not be influenced by appointments or pressures," said Butler County Coroner Lisa Mannix. 

Coroner’s from Butler, Clermont, Highland, Warren and Hamilton counties are all saying this change could influence death rulings.

“We would have a new boss, we would have someone looking over our shoulder, we would have someone influencing what should not be influenced," said Clermont County Coroner Brian Treon.

But lawmakers backing the bill say everything in it is designed to cut spending.

"This bill (HB 96) cuts much needed reforms from top to bottom, cutting waste, eliminating unnecessary programs, putting fiscal responsibility at the forefront," said State Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville.

Stewart is sponsoring the bill and he said he’s also concerned about finding qualified coroners to run a campaign, but coroners said that shouldn’t be the main concern.

“This whole idea that it's about money, and people don't want to waste money on campaign is kind of ridiculous because so few coroner's office jobs when it comes up for a general election, majority of times people are unopposed," said Warren County Coroner Russell Uptegrove.

While the House approved its version, the Senate is still working through the process. Eventually, both chambers will need to agree on a spending plan that they will send to Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio.

Coroners said they will continue to talk to different lawmakers to push back against the bill, but if it goes through, they’d be able to keep their jobs for the next four years before the rules change.