Prairie Home Cemetery plans infrastructure repairs, more cremation services and perpetual-care adjustments

Prairie Home Cemetery Director Karen Richards briefed the finance committee on Oct. 16 about facilities improvements, service trends and the cemetery’s 2026 budget.

Richards cited capital and maintenance accomplishments in 2025 including replacement of an HVAC system in the chapel, fountain replacement at the Autumn Garden Mausoleum complex and tuckpointing and masonry repairs planned for the chapel. She said plumbing upgrades on the grounds were completed and that staff are planning a master plan and a community-education event for 2026.

On services Richards said cremation accounted for roughly 58% of services in the most recent year compared with a roughly 50/50 split previously, and that cemetery staff plan to add more cremation options and evaluate cemetery software consolidation so record-keeping systems “talk to each other.”

Richards told the committee the cemetery receives relatively little levy support and noted the city’s annual levy contribution for the cemetery is about $88,681. She said operating revenues are up slightly and that staff have analyzed perpetual-care costs and will recommend fee and endowment adjustments to the cemetery commission in December; the budget shows a small loss for 2026 that staff expect to offset with fee changes.