The cost of dying in Banff is likely to get more expensive.
Banff has one of the lowest burial fees in the province, but the governance and finance committee is recommending to council an increase of 10 per cent in 2017 and eight per cent in 2018 for full burials, cremation and after-hours and weekend burials based on operating costs.
Administration had initially recommended an 18 per cent jump in fees next year alone, but Councillor Brian Standish expressed concern that was too much and managed to convince his colleagues to consider phasing the fee hike over two years.
“We’ve been burying people in Banff for over 100 years,” said Standish at a Monday (Nov. 14) meeting. “An 18 per cent increase in one year is pretty drastic.”
The committee was looking at recommendations on overall municipal fees and charges for 2017, which covers everything from building and development fees to recreation fees, business licences and special events charges.
Most fees and charges are not going up at all in 2017, but some of the significant increases include building and development fees, offsite levies, water and sewer rates and burials.
Over the two years, the cost of a full burial is recommended to go from $550 to $650, while a cremation burial would jump from $255 to $300. The cost of burials after-hours and on weekends would increase from $255 to $300 over two years.
Nadine Setzer, the Town of Banff’s grounds supervisor, said recommended fee increases reflect the costs associated with burials, as well as cover additional overtime costs for weekends and after-hours.
“This is a true reflection of staff hours and preparation for opening and closing of graves,” she said.
Setzer said comparisons were made with Town of Canmore fees, as well as other municipalities in Alberta.
“I would say our fees are some of the lowest in the province,” she said.
Setzer said there are plans next year for a discussion on the actual cost of purchasing plots.
“They’re probably a quarter of the cost in other municipalities,” she said.
Changes have also been suggested for the fee to file an appeal to the development appeal board.
The initial recommendation was to increase the fee from $100 to $250, but Standish convinced his colleagues to consider a charge of $200 next year and another $50 the following year.
The City of Calgary charges $100, while the fee for the Town of Canmore is $250. Calgary subdivision and development appeal board is a standing body, whereas Banff and Canmore convene each time an appeal is filed.
“I don’t support the increase to $250,” Standish said. “I think it’s too much of a burden on the appellant. It shouldn’t be a hindrance to an appellant to file an appeal.”
