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Veterans office proposes raising burial assistance from $150 to $500; council asks for budget analysis
Summary
The county veterans office proposed increasing burial assistance and headstone installation payments after 25 years without an ordinance update; commissioners asked staff to model fiscal impacts and funding options before adopting changes.
The county’s veterans office director proposed updates to the county ordinance on burial assistance, saying current payments—$150 for a veteran burial, $100 for a surviving spouse and $60 for a grave marker foundation—have not kept pace with costs and should be raised. The presenter proposed raising veteran burial assistance to $500, surviving spouse assistance to $300, and grave marker assistance to $200.
The director provided counts: 635 burials in 2023, 429 in 2024 and about 200 so far in 2025. He said average cremation costs he surveyed ranged “anywhere from $1,300 to $1,500.” Commissioners asked how an increase would be paid for and whether the county could absorb midyear appropriations; staff said the current veteran headstone line item balance and overall fund balances need review. One commissioner noted the VA provides certain benefits in specific circumstances but not for every veteran and requested staff (Scott and Jason) work together to model costs and potential transfers rather than unilaterally increasing the ordinance.
No ordinance change was adopted at the study session; council members asked the veterans office to return with dollar figures and options for phased increases or budget transfers ahead of next year’s budget process.
