The Brief
- A Milwaukee County committee advanced legislation allowing the county attorney to pursue collections from funeral homes with large unpaid balances.
- Officials say 18 funeral homes currently have outstanding balances of $25,000 or more owed to the medical examiner’s office.
- Records show four Milwaukee funeral homes owe a combined $1.3 million, including one owing more than $512,000.
MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County leaders are moving forward with a plan to collect unpaid fees owed to the medical examiner’s office by funeral homes.
What we know:
A Milwaukee County committee on Tuesday, March 10, advanced legislation allowing the county attorney to pursue collections from funeral homes with large outstanding debts owed to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Earlier this year, the medical examiner’s office began requiring funeral homes with outstanding balances of $25,000 or more to pay fees up front for services such as death certificates, cremation permits and body transport. Funeral homes collect those fees from families and are expected to pass them along to the county.…