A deserted cemetery

We’ve told you before that we think cemeteries have some great business opportunities in the new wave of cremation protocol if death care professionals can convince client families that the proper way to memorialize their loved ones is to inter or use a cemetery niche instead of scattering or bringing home cremated remains.

We’ve also told you that many cemeteries, especially in rural areas, just don’t have enough volume of interments, whether earth burial or cremation burial to bring in enough revenue to keep the cemetery maintained at status quo levels.  This is a story of one such cemetery located near Twin Falls, Idaho.

Filer Cemetery is is located in Filer, Idaho in Twin Falls County.  It’s a private non-profit cemetery of about 2,700 graves ran by 80-year old Tom Lancaster who is paid $1,200 per month for his services in keeping the cemetery maintained.

The county is now determining whether to put the question on the November ballot to create a taxing district for the upkeep of the cemetery.  It is estimated that if it put on the ballot and the measure passes all country residents would see a property tax assessment of about $13 per $100,000 of real property valuation.

County annexation without a taxing district would just create more expenses for the county with very little added income.

Funeral Director Daily take:  As we’ve said before, abandoned cemeteries in rural areas are going to be a neglected problem as many do not have perpetual care funds even for the mowing of the lawn.  I’m generally against creating new taxing districts because eventually costs seem to run amuk.  However, a minimum amount of assessment in cases like this might be a solution to this coming and eventually growing problem.