Vancouver previously sold its cemetery plots based on a price that was established in 2009. The adjustment made in 2021 enables the city to remain in the competitive market and continue providing quality service, said Bill Bjerke, Vancouver Public Works grounds superintendent. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)Photo Gallery
City of Vancouver cemetery prices, which were once a local bargain, increased in 2021 to support operations and improve its overall services to ensure the sites remained taken care of for years to come.
The Vancouver City Council adopted code changes in February that included housekeeping measures and approved increasing fees in accordance with administrative policy. Specifically, the policy stated pricing could be adjusted to be within 90 percent and 100 percent of local public and private cemetery interment costs.
Bill Bjerke, Vancouver Public Works grounds superintendent, said Vancouver previously valued its burials and services based on a price that was established in 2009. The city’s first price increase since that time occurred in mid-2021.
Increasing the price contributed to funding cemetery capital repairs, improvements and other service costs. The code change was applied to cemeteries owned and managed by the city, including Park Hill Cemetery, Old City Cemetery and Fisher Cemetery.
To illustrate, interment prices for a full-size grave with an upright memorial cost $1,300 in 2009 and increased to $1,833 in 2021. A small cremains grave with a flat memorial costs $600, compared with its previous rate of $395. A graveside service setup includes tent, chairs and other miscellaneous event preparations, and costs $200 — more than three times the previous price.
This cost adjustment only pertains to a person’s right of interment, or the right to bury remains in a plot of land owned by the city. The prices do not include body preparations or materials such as gravestones, caskets or urns, which are provided by funeral homes.
Bjerke said the price increase allowed the city cemeteries to remain in the competitive market. About 75 percent of what is made from cemetery services goes toward maintenance and operations. This includes everything from mowing, keeping graves edged, irrigation and debris removal.
“It was well overdue,” he said.
The remaining 25 percent contributes to the cemetery improvement fund, which covers capital repairs and specialized projects. Bjerke said there are areas that need additional care after years of being neglected, such as the Old City Cemetery iron frontage fence that is unstable due to age and impacts. The project costs around $50,000 to $60,000, which is likely to be addressed sooner because of the additional funds.
Despite having to work with a frugal budget, cemetery maintenance staff do what they can to ensure the spaces remain clean and comfortable. New burial prices may allow them to have additional funds to work on special projects, he said, but their effort remains the same.
“We strive hard to provide the best service we can, and we hope (customers) appreciate it,” Bjerke said.
City and private interment rates are consistent throughout Vancouver yet vary in neighboring cities. Ridgefield provides plots in its city cemetery for $600 for a casket, cremains or both. Being buried in the city of Camas’ cemetery is more expensive, with upright memorials costing $2,300 and standard cremains burials priced at $900.
Cathy Huber Nickerson, Camas finance director, said its city council has a policy to increase all city fees, including prices for cemetery plots, annually to align with market rates and adjust to price changes caused by inflation. Every five years, the city of Camas recoups its costs, or pays back expenses. This looked different for the fiscal year, Nickerson said, because the city didn’t want to increase prices out of respect for those who died during the coronavirus pandemic.
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