At their regular meeting Wednesday morning, the Butler County commissioners plan to consider raising the salary of the coroner to that of other elected officials.

In addition, the meeting will consider giving all elected officials, except the commissioners, 2% annual raises beginning in 2022. A potential increase for commissioners would not take effect until 2024.

The coroner's salary is about $73,500, while the other elected officials are making $86,710, officials said at a special meeting Tuesday evening. William F. Young III is the coroner. His term ends in January 2022, and the position is open in this year's election.

The commissioners will consider two proposals for raising the coroner's salary at today's meeting, solicitor Wil White explained Tuesday.

One proposal would raise the salary to $86,671 this year and the second would raise it to that amount in three incremental raises by 2024, White said.

“I prefer the latter,” Commissioner Kevin Boozel said.

All three commissioners said they checked with other counties and learned that almost all of them pay elected officials the same amount.

“We're trying to right something,” Commissioner Kimberly Geyer said.

She said the coroner works with people at their worst moments in life in situations that sometimes involve homicide, suicide and drug overdoses, and is on call 24 hours a day.

The coroner's office also employs two part-time deputies and a full-time secretary, and has an annual budget of $732,202, Geyer said.

She said making the coroner's salary “competitive” is important for people interested in running for the position.

The last coroner's salary increased was approved in 2013 by the previous board of commissioners. That raise made the salary equal to that of other elected officials, Geyer added.

Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, said the goal is the put the coroner's salary “in line” with other elected officials.

Boozel said the coroner's salary is “within range” of the other offices, but has never matched the salaries of other elected officials.

He said there is a movement to equalize the salaries, and he prefers to accomplish that incrementally.

“My concern was the budget,” Boozel said. Other departments have staffing needs, he added.

A separate proposal before the commissioners would increase the annual pay raises for elected officials from 1% to 2% effective the first Monday in January 2022, except for the commissioners.

White said state law prohibits commissioners from raising their salaries while they are in office. The terms of all three commissioners ends in January 2024.

He said it is important to establish the salaries before candidates begin circulating petitions to enter the election.

The coroner, clerk of courts, controller and sheriff offices are open in this year's election.