The Collin County Commissioner's Court approved a $6,410 budget amendment to cover increased cremation costs for abandoned and unclaimed bodies incurred in FY 2025.

County staff reported the Medical Examiner's Office has had more identified abandoned or unclaimed bodies requiring cremation than were budgeted; the county's practice is to cremate abandoned and unclaimed bodies that have been identified when next of kin either cannot or will not assume responsibility. Unidentified bodies are buried to preserve the possibility of future exhumation for identification.

"For abandoned bodies, we have identified the body, contacted the next of kin, and they either have no resources to assist or they really don't want to assume responsibility. And then for unclaimed bodies, we have identified the body. We cannot locate the next of kin," County staff member Mr. Kim said. The Medical Examiner's office told the court that typical cremation costs are approximately $800 per case.

The court voted 3-0 to approve the FY 2025 budget adjustment. Staff said it is too early to say whether a similar amendment will be necessary for FY 2026; they said they will monitor expenditures and return to the court if an adjustment is needed.

Commissioners asked staff to consider projected population growth and related service needs when preparing future budgets.