The Houston County Commission shall hereafter pay all necessary expenses for the operation of the county coroner’s office from the county general fund. Provided, however, that any expenditures heretofore made by such commission in support of such coroner’s office, retroactive to October 1, 1970, are hereby ratified and affirmed. Such coroner shall appoint a qualified deputy coroner to serve in his absence and shall make provisions for compensating such deputy coroner for his services.