Budget cuts takes Ohio coroner's grief counselor

CLEVELAND (AP) — The county coroner’s office in Cleveland is losing its grief counselor to budget cuts.

Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald says the county remains committed to being compassionate but will do it in a different way. The Plain Dealer newspaper quotes him as saying the medical examiner’s office could provide grief counseling through partnerships with nonprofit agencies.

The coroner’s office has offered the services for free since 1999. Psychologist Sandra Caramela-Miller was paid $108,000 last year and has typically counseled loved ones of victims of violent and sudden deaths.

FitzGerald cut 21 county government workers last week in his second round of layoffs since taking office earlier this year.