The cost of a burial at Rockwood Cemetery is going up.
Guelph-Eramosa council approved the increase that will be phased in over two years after hearing a report from director of parks and recreation Robin Milne at its May 20 meeting.
Milne told council the hike is being recommended after comparing prices at other area cemeteries and will see the cost of four foot by 10 foot plot rise by $700 to $2,000 by 2015.
A two foot by two foot plot will also increase in price by $575 to $1,175 by next year.
The plots, which currently cost $1,300 and $600 respectively, will rise to $1,650 and $887 by June.
“The reason I’m proposing to do this over two years is because it is a big jump,” Milne told council. “I was doing it more to ease people into it.”
Milne said the cemetery currently has about 10 plots in the old section and about “440 plots in the new area.”
He said the increase is not designed to generate any profit, but will cover the cost of maintenance by the township.
“This isn’t a revenue generator?” Councillor Corey Woods asked.
“It’s revenue neutral,” Milne said.
“Our neighbours are still higher than we are,” Mayor Chris White said. “This is what it takes to maintain a high quality cemetery.”
