1. In all first classification counties not having a charter form of government and containing a portion of a city having a population of four hundred thousand or more inhabitants, and in all first classification counties not having a charter form of government and having a population of one hundred ten thousand, but less than two hundred thousand inhabitants, the public administrator shall receive as total compensation for such public administrator’s services an annual salary established pursuant to section 50.343, to be paid in equal monthly installments by the county. In any other counties of the first classification not having a charter form of government, the salary commission may elect by majority vote to establish a salary as the alternative total compensation to be offered as compensation to the public administrator, to be paid in equal monthly installments by the county. If the salary commission elects to establish such salary alternative, it shall be established at either the time set forth in section 50.343 or at the salary commission meeting prior to the general election for the election of the office of public administrator. Should the salary commission elect to establish such salary alternative, the newly elected public administrator shall then make a determination within thirty days after taking office whether such public administrator elects to receive such salary or receive fees as may be allowed by law to executors, administrators and personal representatives, unless the court, for special reasons, allows a higher compensation. The election by the public administrator shall be made in writing to the county clerk. Should the public administrator elect to receive a salary, the public administrator’s office may not then change at any future time to receive fees in lieu of salary. The alternative salary, if election is made by the public administrator to accept such, shall be in lieu of any compensation as set forth in section 473.739. In all other counties, the public administrator shall receive the same compensation for such public administrator’s services as may be allowed by law, and as set forth in section 473.739, to executors, administrators, and personal representatives, unless the court, for special reasons, allows a higher compensation. Any such public administrator may be removed from office in the same manner and for the same causes as commissioners of the county commission.

2. In all counties in which the public administrator is paid an annual salary by the county, the county shall receive all amounts which would have been paid to the public administrator for the administrator’s services pursuant to this chapter if such public administrator were in a county in which the public administrator was not paid an annual salary as provided in subsection 1 of this section. All amounts received by the county pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be deposited in the county treasury.