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Northfield Macedonia Cemetery board approves 2025 budget; plans investigated for $60,000 columbarium
Summary
The Northfield Macedonia Cemetery trustees approved the cemetery’s 2025 budget and assessment rates. The cemetery reported a cash balance of about $300,000, recent burial and sales figures, and is exploring a $60,000 columbarium holding 48 niches to expand interment capacity.
The Northfield Macedonia Cemetery board approved its 2025 annual budget and assessment rates at its May 8 annual meeting.
Mister Snell, the cemetery’s fiscal officer, presented the financial documents and explained the budget request of $161,000. The board voted to accept the fiscal documents and then voted to approve the 2025 cemetery budget and assessment rates. “We are not asking for an increase in community contribution,” Snell told the board while reviewing the figures.
Snell gave operational and program details: the cemetery dates to 1847, has about 500 lots still available and generated fee revenue from last year’s interments and sales. Last year the cemetery recorded 28 full burials and 13 ash burials, and sold 21 graves plus 3 cremation graves. The cemetery reported roughly one full-time employee who handles daily operation (Dan Sockle was identified as the person who runs day-to-day operations) and Snell serves part time on bookkeeping and records.
Snell outlined a proposed columbarium — an above-ground niche structure — estimated to cost about $60,000 and to hold approximately 48 niches. He said the trustees are investigating that option and would fund the columbarium with user fees; initial capital would need to be fronted by the cemetery. “It would hold up to 48. They haven't made a decision with regard to that. We're just doing the investigation,” Snell said.
Snell provided budget detail and explained conservative estimates for wages and repairs; trustees questioned significant projected increases in repair and wage lines. Snell said the trustees are building cushions for potential repairs and cited recent capital work (driveway redo, fence painting) and planned electrical work to run power out to the gate and to install cameras for security. The cemetery reported a cash balance of approximately $300,000 and that those funds are in an interest-bearing account.
Board members moved and seconded the motions: first to accept the financial documents presented by the cemetery fiscal officer and then to approve the 2025 annual budget and assessment rates. Both motions passed by voice vote. The board also discussed that indigent burials can be handled at the cemetery and confirmed eligibility for burial is limited to residents of the member communities and immediate family members (Northfield Center, Sagamore Hills, Northfield Village and Macedonia).
