MAYFIELD - Public, not-for-profit cemeteries in the area face a struggle to balance their books while maintaining the grounds.
Constrained by state law and faced with rising maintenance costs and an unstable economy, times are difficult for the boards that oversee these public cemeteries, say local cemetery officials, who have been seeking more help from volunteers.
"All cemeteries essentially have to work within [their] budget," said Walter Ryan, board president for Mayfield Union Rural Cemetery on School Street. "Some people have the expectation the cemetery should look like their front lawns, and that is, financially, simply not possible."
According to state law, not-for-profit cemeteries must place at least 90 percent of the funds generated from the sale of grave lots into a permanent fund, which in turn generates annual interest income for maintenance and mowing. Privately owned cemeteries and those owned by religious institutions are not subject to this law.
Ryan said that because of the recent unstable financial climate, the amount of return from the cemetery's endowment is down this year, generating between $2,000 and $3,000 this year. Grave-opening fees and charges for building monument foundations add to the annual revenue.
Ryan said the cemetery board works hard to maintain the cemetery.
"We do not accept the premise that the cemetery is not being maintained. I think it looks quite good." Ryan said. "The current board is quite proud of the maintenance of the cemetery."
Mayfield has a yearly contract with a landscaper in Broadalbin to mow the cemetery, but Ryan said the budget was not enough to have a regular mowing schedule. To save money, the landscaper keeps an eye on the cemetery and mows when necessary, Ryan explained.
Larger cemeteries are feeling economic pressure as well.
Elmer Washburn, president of the Prospect Hill Cemetery Association in Gloversville, said, "We have to manage our budget very carefully. We are limited in what major projects that we want to accomplish, such as tree removal and road building.
"It's a struggle," he continued. "Revenue generation and the rate of return is down. The endowment only generates about half of what we need."
The Prospect Hill endowment fund is about $1.3 million, and, with dividends and interest, made about $55,000 for this year's approximately $100,000 budget.
Canajoharie Falls Cemetery has felt some of the economic hardship, but treasurer of the cemetery board, Charles Tallent, said the cemetery's endowment, long ago bolstered by donations from the Arkell family of the original Beech-Nut Packing Co., is strong enough to adequately maintain the cemetery.
The Canajoharie cemetery's funds are invested in stocks and bonds.
"While we suffered a bit from the economy, we certainly haven't suffered in comparison to other cemeteries all across New York that are financially troubled," Tallent said.
The boards of Canajoharie Falls and the adjoining, smaller Prospect Hill cemetery-not to be confused with Prospect Hill in Gloversville - recently voted to merge and are working on the consolidation, said Tallent.
"Prospect Hill is an old and historic cemetery that is no longer selling new lots and both organizations thought it advantageous to join together," Tallent said.
In Mayfield, Ryan noted that a few new volunteers stepped forward recently to help out around the cemetery and a local company donated the use of some equipment and employees.
He applauded those efforts and urged residents to support the cemetery.
"We rely on people's hard work in these tough economic times," he said. "We need to do it for ourselves and our community."
Edward J. Hunt covers rural news and can be reached at ruralnews@leaderherald.com.
