Cemetery Fee Hike Could Spark Backlash, Councillor Warns

Thursday, 4 July 2024, 2:28 pm
Article: Maia Hart - Local Democracy Reporter

An estimated $1800 hike in burial fees in Marlborough could be met with some “pushback” from the community, a councillor says.

The Marlborough District Council last week confirmed a change in how burials and cremations will be funded in Marlborough after putting a proposal out for consultation through the long-term plan.

The move meant 70% of cemetery-related operating costs will fall on users, and the remaining 30% will be funded by ratepayers.

Blenheim ward councillor Jamie Arbuckle told the council at a long-term plan adoption meeting last week he did not agree with the move.

“It's very late in the piece to raise this,” Arbuckle said.

“I realise it's saving $134,000 so it is a significant thing for trying to keep rates down.”

He said the last time fees changed it caused a “huge ruckus” in the community.

In 2019, a move to make cemetery-related operating costs 50% ratepayer funded and 50% user funded was passed by the council by a single vote.

Previously, the cost of burial plots and interment fees in Fairhall, Picton, Omaka, Rai Valley and Tuamarina cemeteries were 70% funded by ratepayers.

There were 16 submissions to the plan on the latest hike, of which, the minority supported it.

“This increase almost increases a burial by $2000 and ashes by $600,” Arbuckle said.

“So what I'm flagging is I think there will actually be some push back when certain community cemeteries actually realise the increase in their cemetery.

“We didn't receive enough submissions but I actually don't think this was highlighted very well in the consultation document.

“A cemetery, unfortunately, we all end up there, and yes, you can argue for user pay but I think at 50/50 we were actually at the right balance.

“What we were trying to do here was keep rates down, and it puts the cost somewhere else.”

He went on to say he thought he would be the odd one out with this opinion, so there was probably no point voting against it.

Marlborough mayor Nadine Taylor said based on consultation, there was a level of support from the community but also a “very small level of interest”.

Deputy mayor David Croad said he wanted to add a “little bit of balance”.

“Through levels of service workshops, [we] tell every department in this organisation to go away and come up with options to find savings and look at doing things differently.

“The likes of the cemetery question was well discussed at those levels of service workshops, made its way to long-term plan working groups, [and] budget discussions.

“Obviously we asked for the community to feedback, and here we are. So I applaud staff.”

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% charged to users and 25% to ratepayers.

A report prepared for the meeting said the justification for the change in price 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, 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.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ on Air.

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