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Sanford cemetery fund running at a loss; city discusses fee increases, management options
Summary
City staff reported ongoing losses in the cemetery fund and told commissioners there are about 6,000 available plots; staff proposed researching fee increases, management options and possible urn wall installation to reduce general-fund subsidies.
City staff told the commission that the cemetery fund has been operating at a loss for several years and that the city currently subsidizes cemetery operations from the general fund.
Cindy Lindsey and other staff provided historic transfer figures: the cemetery had an approximate net loss of $112,000 in 2022, $108,000 in 2023 and $89,000 in 2024; staff currently projects a loss around $92,000 for the current year. Lindsey said the city no longer has a perpetual fund to cover cemetery costs and that the cemetery is now supported primarily by general-fund transfers.
Staff also said the cemetery has about 6,000 available places and estimated current use at about 40 burials per year; at that rate the supply would last multiple decades. Commissioners asked whether the city should change management approaches, increase fees, add an urn or columbarium wall product for additional revenue, or outsource management to a private operator; staff said those options have been discussed in prior years and that they will present comparative fee data and options for commission consideration.
Commissioners directed staff to research surrounding municipalities' practices and fee schedules and to return with proposals for fee adjustments, urn-wall feasibility and other revenue options. No fee changes or formal actions were taken at the workshop.
