County Cremations Result in Taxpayer Savings

In the choppy waters of a troubled economy, consumers, businesses and government entities struggle to stay afloat by off-loading unnecessary expenditures. As state and local governments analyze budgets in search of savings opportunities, some are viewing cremation as a cost-effective alternative to burial for indigent citizens.

For obvious public health reasons, the law requires timely disposition of human bodies following death. When an individual dies without having the means to pay for a funeral, the responsibility for burial typically falls to the county. In some cases, state or municipal governments may fulfill this duty, but no matter which level of government is charged with the responsibility, taxpayers foot the bill.

Minnesota lawmakers introduce bill to allow indigent cremations
In Minnesota, for example, counties spend millions of dollars every year to bury those who die without family or money to take care of funeral arrangements. Unless planned or requested otherwise, state law mandates burial, even though each cremation would result in a savings of approximately $875 per individual. Hennepin County alone paid for 839 burials in 2008, at a cost of over $1.2 million.

To reduce the burden on taxpayers, state legislators recently introduced a bill that would allow counties to opt for cremation unless burial is required as a matter of religious faith. According to Rep. Kim Norton, one of the bill’s co-authors, “There’s no reason why the county could not have a very dignified service and still have it be cremation.”

Cremations spell significant savings for Nevada county
In Nevada, where the cremation rate is double the nation’s average, Clark County used to bury most deceased indigents. But this year the county moved toward cremation in all cases unless the county receives a written request for burial. According to Nancy McLane, director of Clark County Social Services, the move to cremation has saved the county at least $600,000 annually.