Board advances fee rulemaking after FY25 shows $337,077 shortfall

At the Oct. 14 meeting the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers reviewed final fiscal‑year 2025 figures and authorized legal staff to proceed with administrative rulemaking to raise several license and registration fees.

Executive Director Tim Gribble presented the year‑end budget closing showing net revenue of $529,760 against total expenditures of $866,837, leaving a fiscal‑year deficit of $337,077. Gribble noted the board’s reserve balance has fallen substantially since 2021, citing a drop from about $1.33 million to roughly $761,357, and reminded members that fees had not increased in 22 years and had been lowered on two occasions during that period.

Gribble and counsel Michael Bryant described a proposed rule package that reduces staff projections while moderating increases requested earlier by the board. Key changes reported to members included increasing student and apprentice registration from $50 to $100 and setting the funeral director and embalmer initial and renewal fee at $375 (down from earlier drafts that had been higher). Bryant presented draft rule citations (0660‑03‑0.01, 0660‑03‑0.03 and related sections) that will govern the changes. Board members said they preferred the updated, lower figures to an earlier draft and emphasized the need to make the math work without repeated adjustments.

A motion by Tim Wheeler, seconded by Randy Nash, authorized legal to proceed with the rulemaking package. The motion carried by voice vote.

Gribble said the next steps will be formal publication of notice, administrative review and a public rulemaking hearing where regulated parties can comment before final adoption.