Jon:
The fact is, it does cost a lot to maintain a cemetery, and by raising prices
today does not help compensate for those that were sold 50 years ago for $10
or $15. The idea of a perpetual care fund was great 100 years ago when it was
established, but our ancestors had no idea the technology advances that we
would be involved with and how buying one new mower could wipe out that fund.
I'm not aware of a law that allows you to take your books to the trustee and
have them help you, but I am aware of the one that allows you to turn the
cemetery over to the trustee after you've gone broke. You deed it over and the
township then owns and maintains it....not exactly the best case scenario either.
I'm not trying to protect anyone who does not properly maintain a cemetery,
but as a member of a cemetery association (who gets paid nothing) I know first
hand what it is like to "live" from year to year. We're much better today
than we were 10 years ago, but we also have $25,000 in repairs to various things
we've been putting off because we don't have the money.
Do I have an answer? Yes, I do. Some of those that are really concerned
about the cemetery's future need to step up to the plate and put their money
where their mouth is, literally. Involving the cemetery in their estate planning
would be an ideal way to give the cemetery the 'perpetual' care it deserves.
I think you will find that those cemeteries that have the care they need and
have the money to do it have been helped by monetary gifts by people after
their deaths.
But if you're still not satisfied with what I've had to say, ask to see the
treasurer's books over the years and see where the money has gone. Most
cemetery associations are set up whereas the lot owners are shareholders. As a lot
owner, attend the next meeting and hear what the troubles are that are facing
your board. Who knows, maybe there will be an upcoming vacancy on the board
and you can volunteer to fill it. That's how I got on ours.
-Kyle