BANFF – Dying in Banff is about to get more expensive.
The governance and finance committee has asked administration to include a $1,940 perpetual care fee within the grave certificate price in a bid to lessen the tax funding required for future cemetery maintenance.
Town of Banff officials say a $1,940 perpetual care fee would bring the total cost of an adult grave to the comparative average of $2,460, making burials 90 per cent taxpayer-funded instead of the current 98 per cent.
“I think changing our fees to be more in line with other communities, and seeing a little bit more cost recovery, is appropriate,” said Mayor Karen Sorensen, noting the proposal will be brought back in a bylaw for council’s final consideration.
“I also firmly believe that our cemeteries serve our residents, and we have rules and regulations around eligibility, so I do believe continued tax-support of our cemeteries is also appropriate.”
Councillor Ted Christensen preferred a second option, with a perpetual care fee of $6,375, which would change the percentage of taxpayer dollars needed for future cemetery maintenance to 75 per cent.
“I tend to want to support option B because there’s greater cost support from the users,” he said.
Average annual cemetery revenue in Banff is $3,120, while the average annual costs for lawn care, snow servicing and general maintenance at both Old Banff Cemetery and Mountain View Cemetery are $153,000.
A reservation certificate is also proposed to allow a person meeting all eligibility requirements to reserve the right to pursue interment at a future time within Mountain View Cemetery. However, the reservation certificate is not assigned to a specific grave, is non-transferable, and non-refundable.
“The reservation certificate’s intent is to provide piece of mind and planning direction for executors and beneficiaries,” said Setzer, noting the certificate would expire after 49 years.
A grace certificate, on the other hand, gives the purchaser the right to determine who, should they meet the Town of Banff’s eligibility requirements, can be buried within their grave and what type of monument, or memorial marker, can be placed on it.
Setzer said the cost of the grave certificate and interment services will be incurred, at market rate, at time of purchase, or when interment services are required.
Should a purchaser change their mind, she said the grave certificate is only refundable to the original owner at purchase price, less the pro-rated perpetual care and administrative fees.
“Grave certificates are transferable through inheritance, however carry no cash value,” she said.
“Grave certificates can be transferred back to the Town of Banff by written requests and will have an expiry after 49 years should the grave remain unoccupied.”
