Funeral homes urge Putnam County to increase indigent burial reimbursement; commissioners ask staff for options
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Summary
Local funeral directors told the county that the indigent burial/cremation reimbursement ($500 since about 2007) no longer covers costs. Directors asked for a near‑$1,000 increase; commissioners asked staff to research other counties’ policies, prepare an affordability analysis and consider a verification form before any change.
Representatives of local funeral homes addressed the Putnam County commission on Nov. 18 seeking an increase in the county’s indigent burial/cremation reimbursement.
Theodore Brown of Lawson Funeral Home explained line‑item costs tied to cremation, transportation, disinfecting and administrative work and said that the county’s $500 reimbursement (in place since about 2007) required updating. "The cremation, give or takes, cost about $300...But we're losing more than we're gaining," Brown said, and requested consideration of a higher minimum reimbursement, indicating a target of roughly $995.
Other directors, including Steve Overturf and Carl Flagg, described operational burdens — time spent verifying next‑of‑kin, performing legal steps for cremation authorization, and fixed costs of facilities — and urged the county to adopt a policy that balances accountability with humane treatment. Commissioners and Deputy Administrator Juliana Young said the county currently runs a rotation of participating funeral homes and that staff had not moved to a formal bid process to avoid excluding willing local providers.
The board asked staff to compile comparative data on neighboring counties’ indigent burial policies and amounts, and to return with options that could include an affidavit or proof‑of‑eligibility form, a rotation or bid process, and budget impacts. No change to the reimbursement rate was approved at the meeting.
