Cemetery fees could be hiked again in Marlborough
The cost of burying a loved one could rise in Marlborough, just five years after the council decided to hike cemetery fees by a single vote.
In 2019, councillors voted to make cemetery-related operating costs 50 per cent ratepayer funded and 50 per cent user funded. Previously, the cost of burial plots and interment fees in Fairhall, Picton, Omaka, Rai Valley and Tuamarina cemeteries were 70 per cent funded by ratepayers. The council was now considering putting even more of the cost on users, to lessen the burden on ratepayers.
They were looking at charging users 70 per cent and ratepayers 30 per cent, with the operating budget adjusted annually to match the consumer price index. Council’s reserves and amenities officer Grahame Smail told the council at a long term plan budget meeting on February 26 that the last time he looked into what other councils charged across the country, the average ratio was about 75 per cent charged to users and 25 per cent to ratepayers. A report prepared for the meeting said the justification for this was that most of the time, users of the cemetery were “those who have passed and their families”. “Like some of the other activities that council do, I think we can be rightfully proud of our cemeteries,” Grahame said.
Last year, the cost of operating Marlborough’s cemeteries was $670,000, which was covered $335,000 by ratepayers and $350,000 by users.
Based on those costs, the proposed split would save ratepayers $134,000. The estimated cost of a burial would be $6374, up from $4553, and ashes $2254, up from $1610.
The council could either change fees in stages, as they did in 2019, or do it all in one go.
Deputy mayor David Croad said he expected the proposed changes would be a “very emotive topic” when they went out for consultation.
“I applaud staff for looking at opportunities to reduce the rate burden, and I also applaud staff for the condition of our cemeteries,” David said.
“I visit one of them in particular on a regular basis and they look awesome and we should be really proud of them.”
The council approved consultation on the new proposed fees as part of the 2024/34 long term plan. The 2024 plan, which included a draft rates rise of 12.65 per cent, would go out public consultation from April 4 to May 6 and include public meetings and hearings, with dates and locations to be confirmed.