Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Council looks at hiking cemetery fees again
Five years after the council decided to hike cemetery costs in Marlborough by a single vote, the Marlborough District Council is looking at raising costs again.
In 2019, councillors voted to make cemetery-related operating costs 50% ratepayer funded and 50% user funded. Previously, burial plots prices and interment fees in Fairhall, Picton, Omaka, Rai Valley and Tuamarina cemeteries were 70% funded by ratepayers.
The council is now considering putting even more of the cost on users, to lessen the burden on ratepayers. They were looking at charging users 70% and ratepayers 30%, with the operating budget adjusted annually to match the consumer price index.
Council reserves and amenities officer Grahame Smail told the council at a longterm plan budget meeting that the last time he looked into what other councils charged across the country, the average ratio was about 75% charged to users and 25% 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,” Smail said.
Last year, the cost of operating Marlborough’s cemeteries was $670,000. Ratepayers covered $335,000 and users paid $350,000.
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,” Croad said.
“I visit one of them in particular on a regular basis and they look awesome ... 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%, will go out for public consultation from April 4 to May 6 and include public meetings and hearings, with dates and locations to be confirmed.