Death & Taxes: Marble Falls Council to decide new rates

By Alexandria Randolph

Marble Falls City Council held readings for cemetery fees and tax rates; both of which will face decision in upcoming meetings.

In a meeting Tuesday, Aug. 19, the council held a first reading of a city ordinance that, if approved, would change rates for plots at the Marble Falls City Cemetery.

Parks and Recreation Director Robert Moss relayed to council members that the cemetery board, which is the same as the Parks and Recreation Commission, has been discussing ways to generate revenue over the last few months.

“The board’s recommendation is to raise the plot fee from $600 to $1,200,” Moss said, adding that the board was also considering a requirement that all gravesites be marked.

 “We called around to other cities that had city cemeteries,” he said, and added that the plot fee range was between $400 and $1,500, with Lampasas at the lowest price and Boerne at the highest.

“That averaged out to a cost of $935,” Moss said. “I’m going to recommend that we only raise the fee to $900 for residents and $1,100 for non-residents as opposed to $1,200 across the board. That keeps us in the middle of the road.”