A sign for the Outagamie County Coroner's office. February 9, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A restructuring of the Outagamie County Coroner’s Office is underway.
“Outagamie County is one of the last, if not the last, county executive government counties that are moving away from a coroner to a medical examiner,” said County Executive Tom Nelson.
The county approved a resolution in January to replace their elected part-time coroner with a board-appointed, full-time medical examiner.
Nelson said the coroner position has been a part of the county for around 150 years, but it’s time to modernize.
We believe that moving from a coroner to medical examiner with clearly defined duties, responsibilities and experience, that we will, consistent with the overall mission of the county, have the most qualified individual for that position.
This decision, according to Nelson, doesn’t come without input from those involved in coroner business.
“We heard a lot not just from County Board members, but we also heard from a lot of funeral home directors that work very closely, of course, with the coroner’s office,” Nelson said. “They have been telling the board, and they’ve been telling me, that they think that this transition, this switch, would be in the best interest.”
Nelson said the new medical examiner won’t be hired until next January, giving the Outagamie County plenty of time to hire the candidate with the best qualifications. The county plans to post the position on its website later this year.
A concern raised with the county was a potential increase in taxes to fund a new full-time position. Nelson says the county has limits on how much they can raise the levy for residents. It won’t be a charge that stands out from the usual tax increase.
“This will be simply be part of the expected, the anticipated increase in overall spending, as it is contained within the overall levy constraints,” Nelson explained.
The medical examiner position is expected to cost taxpayers an extra $80,000 in salary and benefits. The funds for the new position will be a part of next year’s taxes.
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