Cost of Dying Going Up in Middleburgh

MIDDLEBURGH - It will soon cost more to be buried in the Middleburgh cemetery.

Burial costs and fees have not been raised in several years and the village charges much less than other cemeteries in the region. Unlike most areas, the village owns the cemetery and there is no cemetery association.

At Monday night's meeting, Mayor Tim Knight said the cemetery fees and costs have not been updated since 2012 for the cremation wall. The village, he added, has fallen behind other cemeteries. The village needs to increase the cost of opening and closing graves.

The village has never "broke even" on the cemetery costs, officials said. The fees and costs have come "no where near (to) covering costs," Trustee Bob Tinker said.

Trustee Tinker, the commissioner of cemeteries, noted that the cemetery is going to need a new roof on the vault soon. Vault charges should be changed too, he added.

"We're doing the best we can," he said. "We're never going to make enough to break even."

He noted how long it takes the village crew to mow the cemetery, especially the upper part, during the summer. Sometimes it takes three days to mow the entire cemetery.

Village officials will focus on updating the rates next month.

The current rates are:

* Lots: Single, $500, Double, $950.

* Cremation wall: $400, (single niches only).

* Cremation wall niche opening: $50.

* Permanent care: $100 per lot, included in lot price.

* Grave opening/closing: $500. During regular working hours, Monday-Thursday, 8am to 3pm.

* Grave openings/closings: $700. Fridays after noon, Saturdays, legal holidays and any tome after regular hours (overtime).

Cremation burials: $200.

* Cremation burials $300, Fridays after noon, Saturdays, legal holidays and and part after regular working hours (overtime).

* Vault charges: $250.

* Baby grave opening: $100.

* Foundations: $145 minimum, $20 per cubic foot.

* Grass foundation: $75.

* Additional foundation for flowers, one foot on each end, $75.

* Disinterment: $700.

* Surcharges for village assistant with burial vault: $250.

There are no burials after 1pm on Saturday and all day on Sunday.