Tulare Public Cemetery District reports declining burial trends, wins GSRMA accreditation award

At a meeting of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors sitting as the Tulare Public Cemetery District, district manager Toby Barton presented January and February internment and financial reports and outlined a range of operational work, policy changes and risk‑management steps.

Barton said January and February internment counts showed fewer burials compared with recent years: for the current cemetery she reported 7 burials in January and 10 in February, yielding a reported fiscal‑year total of 74 for that facility and a combined current fiscal‑year count cited as 91; the North Jay Street cemetery totaled 10 burials in January and 14 in February for a year‑to‑date count of 108. Barton said staff have 25 services on the calendar for March and seven already scheduled for April but described the revenue trend as lower than budget, consistent with regional observations that cremation rates and shifting demographics are changing demand.

On finances, Barton reviewed five district funds and reported plans to close a Bank of Sierra account by moving remaining balances into general fund 772 before the end of the fiscal year. She said personnel expenses remain a significant portion of the budget and that operational expenses were running at about 64% of budget; revenue stood near 60% of budget and the district showed a net loss of $68,295 that, Barton said, is masked by one‑time revenue transfers earlier in the fiscal year. She noted a deposit from a mortuary did not clear in February due to a bank security change and will appear in March financials.

The board adopted a pre‑need plot purchase policy that separates payment of endowment fees and the plot sale (to avoid selling fixed packages that could lock in future opening/closing and vault costs), plus safety and vehicle policies required for GSRMA risk‑management accreditation. Barton said she will likely propose a budget amendment at the April meeting to open an expense line to process two prepayment refunds requested under existing contracts.

Barton also reported the district completed its GSRMA MAP documentation and earned the maximum points on the submission, resulting in a $10,112 award. She said the MAP work included developing a cybersecurity policy, establishing a safety committee, performing a proactive risk assessment and creating a LEAP (loss exposure experience plan) on grave stabilization and on district cybersecurity; she said the award check will be presented at GSRMA's May board meeting and mailed before the end of the fiscal year.

Operational items included hiring two seasonal part‑time grounds workers, repairing mowers and a gator, arranging backhoe hydraulic repairs, starting a metal shield grave‑stabilization plan to prevent collapsing graves, and two rounds of gopher abatement. Barton said she is coordinating with the sheriff's office and Tulare Police Department to address parking, encampment and vandalism concerns after a homeless person reportedly set a tent near an ossuary on fire; a police report was filed and a local conservator group "Let It Shine" assisted with restoration.

Public commenters praised the new reporting format that distinguishes cremains, urged clearer signage and enforcement to prevent people from parking on grass and suggested documenting license plates to pursue fines or warnings.

The board approved the financial reports and the policy adoptions by unanimous vote and directed staff to return with related follow‑up items, including a proposed addressing‑fee proposal for the new fiscal year and a possible April budget amendment to process refunds.