Dougherty County coroner seeks salary boost

ALBANY – Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler made his case for a raise, pointing to an increase in cases and his around-the-clock dedication to the job, even during the COVID-19 pandemic when he entered homes where multiple family members were infected with the disease.

The Dougherty County Commission discussed the coroner’s request during its Monday meeting. The commission could vote on boosting Fowler’s salary by $833 per month at its next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 9.

Fowler’s current annual salary is $65,000, according to the county.

The coroner, who has been in the position since 2013, said he has not received a raise since 2017, a period during which he worked through the pandemic, multiple deadly tornadoes and Hurricane Michael.

The workload also has increased significantly since he was elected in 2012, he said during an interview following the commission meeting.

“When I first went to work, we were doing 300 calls,” Fowler said. “Now we’re over 500 calls a year.”

The office has several deputy coroners who are paid per call, but Fowler fields nearly all death cases in the county.

By contrast, coroners’ offices in Savannah and Columbus each have five full-time paid deputies, Fowler said, and in Macon there are four.

“I got to stay around 24/7,” he said.

During the pandemic, emergency workers in the county received bonus pay, he said, which he did not receive.

“I didn’t get anything during COVID,” Fowler said. “I had to go in those houses with COVID. A lot of the others (first responders and E-911 personnel) didn’t have to do that.”

During the commission’s discussion of the issue, County Attorney Alex Shalishali said that a permanent salary increase would need to be approved by the Georgia General Assembly. However, the commission could grant a monthly stipend in the amount of $833.34.

“We’re able to make a salary adjustment through a stipend” without taking the matter to the local legislative delegation, Shalishali said.

“It’s an option with the board as with any other pay increase,” the attorney said.

If the commission decides to approve the stipend, it could choose to do so on an annual basis or make it permanent, the attorney said. If approved, the stipend would be paid through the regular county budget, Interim County Administrator Barry Brooks told commissioners.

“It will come from general funds, contingency (funds), if we do make this happen,” he said.

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]