There’s no money in budget for it, officials say
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
The Town of Burlington officials want to make one thing very clear when it comes to the dire financial situation facing the Burlington Cemetery Association.
“The Town isn’t in a position to do anything about it right now,” Town Administrator Diane Baumeister said Tuesday.
Baumeister’s response was short and to the point, after town officials were publicly called out by City of Burlington officials last week for not helping with the financial issues the Cemetery Association is facing.
The Cemetery Association is looking for funds from both the city and the town in order to keep up with everything that must be done within the cemetery boundaries. Last week, the City of Burlington Common Council agreed to loan $15,000 to the association – which council members were advised they might never see returned – but asked the town to step up as they had.
However, while city officials may be insistent that they can’t be the only ones to help, at least one member of the Town Board is equally insistent that it cannot be them.
“We put together a budget, and the people come in and they approve that budget,” Town Chairman Ralph Rice said. “There was a time where we had a $30,000-$40,000 contingency fund.”
That contingency is no longer there, Rice said, and because the people approved the town budget, it won’t be possible to give the cemetery association money.
An example of the work the town is being forced to do, Rice said, is scaling back work on Karcher Road this summer. Bids came in about $200,000 more than planned, so the town is only doing a portion of the work.
Also, Rice said, the Cemetery Association came asking at the wrong time.
“The time you do something like that with the town is when we put our budget together,” Rice said. “Once it’s in the budget, then the people can vote on it.”
Rice pointed out that there are a number of different cemeteries in the area, and the town budget cannot support one, much less all.
“If the same thing happened, would we be responsible for all of them?” Rice said. “How many more things can you come up with?”
When it came to comments from the City Council last week – both Alderman Tom Vos and Bob Prailes said the town needed to do its part, while others questioned why the town isn’t helping – Rice maintained that the Town Board isn’t on the wrong side of the law.
“I don’t think we’ve done anything wrong,” Rice said. “I’m not in the position to hand that money out. It has to be the agreement of the entire board.
“I think the city has to realize that, while they have grown tremendously, the town has shrunk,” he added. “I think we’re doing what the people want.”
In what are still trying economic times, Rice also said that, in essence, everyone is hurting.
“I understand the situation they’re in,” Rice said. “But there’s a lot of people in that situation. I think the taxpayer’s money should be used to benefit the taxpayers.”
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It was not in the City’s budget to loan $15,000 to the Cemetery Board, yet it is stepping up. It is simply the right thing to do. The Township needs to take a look at what projects ARE budgeted and see what can be scaled back to do their part. In turn, the Cemetery Board needs to be shaken up, and those responsible for failing to right a ship that went astray a decade ago be removed. It is obvious they are under qualified and unable to work through issues. Remember, City AND Township residents have loved ones there & are crushed at the state of affairs! Wake up Rice & Baumeister! There is always a way to make things happen.
In any government, the unexpected happens, and true politicians know how to overcome such obstacles. Your worry for the bottom line is getting in the way of serving your community. There is a way to do both…figure it out!
While the city seems be intoxicated by unnecessary spending – this and the ridiculous hiring of a full time fire chief – the Town continues to make wise fiscally sound decisions. Bravo!
With all due respect, I completely disagree. I do however agree with your comment regarding a FT Fire Chief.
Then I would suggest you Keep the Phone # for the GHOST BUSTERS handy , for come Octover, you are going to need them!
and Send future ‘Residents” to the Cemetary to the County Morgue and County Cemetary..
and Make Cremations be required as well. Can Keep family members in a Coffee can at your Home in your Mantle or Garden after being Cremated.. There are other Cost saving Plans and Methods.. Just Look them up what other Towns have done..
i want to know if the cemetary board ever got the money from the embezzlment money from Mrs. LOIS when she worked at the bank and had the cenetary account? and now why is the city crying the Town share payment? just because people have picked the public cemetary for their final resting place,but see the two funeral homes are in the city,and i remember what it cost for one of the funeral homes i the CITY. I an sure the care takers ad grave diggers get a good salary and the opening of a grave site is billed to the family.township should supply towels to the city.