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.

What they’re saying:

“What is the overall number we’re waiting on?” asked Milwaukee County Supervisor Sky Capriolo.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android

“We do list 18 funeral homes that have a balance, currently, of $25,000 or more,” said Timothy Schabo, Milwaukee County Medical Examiner operations manager.

“Our hope is that, certainly, we’ll be able to avoid any litigation,” said William Davidson, deputy corporation counsel.

“If a family is paying a funeral home for services, and someone at the funeral home is not paying the county, where is that money going? We don’t know?” Capriolo asked.

Officials say it is not uncommon for funeral homes to carry large balances, and some are already aware of their debts, are on payment plans or pay quarterly. 

The medical examiner says if families cannot pay and qualify for assistance from the state or county, those fees are waived.

“I understand there is some delay for some families receiving assistance from this program,” Milwaukee County Medical Examiner Dr. Wieslawa Tlomak said. “However, the funeral homes that we are talking about haven’t been paying us for a long period of time.”

Dig deeper:

The medical examiner said the outstanding balances continue to grow. 

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

Medical examiner records show four Milwaukee funeral homes currently owe a combined $1,324,100, including one funeral home with a balance of more than $512,000.

FOX6 reached out to the funeral homes for comment but has not heard back.

The legislation now heads to the full Milwaukee County Board for consideration.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minnesota businesses are facing significant hurdles with the state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, just two months after its implementation.

Challenges faced by businesses

What we know:

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce shared that 80% of its 6,300 members already offered some form of paid leave before the state mandate. Business owners are now experiencing increased costs and frustration due to the new requirements.

The Chamber highlighted several concerns, including the program’s complexity, slow execution, and disruption for small or seasonal businesses. There are also worries about potential misuse and long-term financial sustainability.

What they’re saying:

“Beyond just anti-fraud sentiments, employers are reporting a few concerning trends, a few examples. Providers are being pressured by patients for the full 12 weeks of leave, even if their condition does not require it. A number of respondents have shared that their employees are making more on paid leave than the wage replacement thresholds in law,” said Lauryn Schothorst of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. “Employees are going on vacation or to music festivals while supposedly on leave. These anecdotes don’t necessarily reveal fraud or a lack of oversight by the department. They highlight concerns with the broad eligibility and limited employer recourse elements of the law. To employers, overuse is abuse,” said Lauryn Schothorst with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

While some employees have reported issues with applying for and receiving benefits, the majority seem to be experiencing no major problems. However, it’s important to note that the program is still in its early stages, and there is much to learn.

What we don’t know:

It’s unclear how these issues will evolve as the program continues and whether adjustments will be made to address business concerns.