It's about to get more expensive to die in Hamilton

Dying in Hamilton is about to cost you more. The city is boosting rates for grave plots, cremation, burial and other death-related services.

The price of an adult grave is going up 15 per cent over the next three years, from $874 in 2015 to $1,329 in 2018. Cremation plots are going up too, as are columbarium niches, adult burials and other costs.

But the biggest increase is in infant and child burials from $95 for an infant plot this year to $323 in three years time, and $204 to $448 for a child plot over the same period. Infant burial rates are also going up 50 per cent.

Until now, Hamilton has been charging less than other cities for these services, said Tennessee Propedo, manager of parks and cemeteries. So the city is catching up.

"We've been below market for some time," he told members of the public works committee on Monday.

The city sent out a media release after the unanimous vote. In it, committee chair Sam Merulla said this will ultimately easethe burden on the tax levy.

"This is a responsible financial plan for Hamilton cemeteries," the Ward 4 councillor said.

The city operates 67 cemeteries. Of those, 20 have active daily sales, Propedo said. Another 25 are semi-active. Others are inactive. Another two will be added to the inactive list next year.

Here are some other highlights from Propedo's report:

• The city will look for more cemetery land in Dundas.
• It will spend $40,000 to hire a marketing and sales co-ordinator.
• It anticipates an increase in burials because of Hamilton's aging population. Revenue will go from $1.8 million in 2016 to $2.6 million in 2019.
• The death rate will increase from 8.5 to 9.09 people per 100,000 over the next 25 years, with even higher rates in Dundas, Glanbrook and urban Hamilton.
• There are 145 cemeteries in total in Hamilton.

City council will vote to ratify the increases at a meeting on Nov. 11. If ratified, the rate increases will take effect in May.