Voters in Whiteford Township near Monroe, Michigan will have an extra ballot question to ponder and vote on when they go to the ballot on November 6.  Township supervisors have asked the residents to vote on a small mill rate that would tax themselves for the operation and upkeep of the township’s aging cemeteries.  You can read about the issue here.

The levy, which was on the August ballot and failed 302-268 would add about $25 annually to the taxes paid per $100,000 of home value.  The supervisors argue that the funds generated are critical to maintaining the infrastructure of the township’s three cemeteries and people did not understand that when it failed in August.  According to the article old monuments need new foundations, fencing needs repairs and the money would also fund a columbarium which supervisors say is needed for cremation burials.

Funeral Director Daily:  This is not the first time we have talked about municipal cemeteries and their financial needs here.  Quite frankly, it is an interesting topic not only on death care but on democracy as well.

While I don’t know the history of the Whiteford Township cemeteries, many of the cemeteries being asked to be taken over by municipalities across America were originally founded in the 19th century as non-profit associations or parts of churches.  As time passed, people have moved from the areas and those that are buried in the cemeteries have no relatives left in the areas and the boards that have operated the cemeteries have ran out of money from new lot sales or donations.  So, what to do with them is the question.

These are issues that become public issues.  There are those who believe that the families of those buried in these cemeteries should fund the upkeep.  However, many times the cemetery boards don’t even know where to look for the relatives as they may have moved out of the area decades ago.

So, in America, this type of somewhat neglected land falls to the taxpayers to figure out.  I certainly understand taxpayers who have no connection to the cemeteries may very well vote against the levy.  In my opinion however, cemeteries are sacred land and a part of American history and need to be taken care of.  I think as our nation moves forward, this type of issue will be more and more on the forefront in rural America and it will cause some divide on do we tax for the past or for the future?  I’m also not so sure that there is a happy medium.

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