Cemetery Fees Set to Rise
By
KGNS News
Story Created:
Sep 18, 2012 at 9:39 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Sep 18, 2012
Several city fees are set to increase soon, including trash fees and airport fees.
But one city increase won't affect you until you lose someone close.
It's a cost most people don't even think about, the cost of death.
"They're raising all sorts of different fees, this is just one of them. Everything from airport parking to now it's going to cost you more to die."
"If you think about it, the increase of living is going up, but the increase of death? It's doesn't make any sense."
Unlike the other city increases, most people don't realize the cost to lose someone they love.
Prices for cemetery plots are set to rise nearly 30-percent very soon.
The cost will jump from $1,400 to $1,800.
(Valdi Guzman/Parks & Recs): "Even with that jump, even with the fee increases, we are still going to be one of the lowest rates in the state of Texas. I mean, the last time we increased fees was back in 1999."
There is no specific date scheduled yet as to when the new fees will take affect.
The city cites a few reasons as to why the increases are necessary.
"Supply and demand. And going back, the last time fees weren't increased were in 1999."
There will also now be a fee from the city for removal of large monuments at cemeteries.
"We heard other companies charge up to $1200 for removal of these types of monuments."
The fee for the removal of monuments will be $475.
City officials said the new cemetery plot rate will not affect those who have already purchased plots.
