The cost of being interred at Westbank Cemetery is set to rise significantly.
At its meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 11), West 麻豆精选 council voted 6-1 to increase rates to better align with other Okanagan municipalities, fund a full-time administrative position, and add maintenance staff.
A 2023 review by Lees and Associates found that Westbank Cemetery fees were significantly lower than those of other cemeteries in the Central Okanagan. The consultant recommended benchmark fees, to which the city added an additional 25 per cent.
Proposed new fee structure for Westbank Cemetery | City of West Keowna
The cost of traditional casket burial is going up from $2,795 to $5,920 -- a 112 per cent increase.The cost of in ground cremation is rising 73 per cent, from $1,064 to $1,844.
In September 2024, council expressed its intention to raise fees to ensure the cemetery could be self-funded while maintaining the necessary staffing levels.
Parks Manager Mark Roberts told council that the revised fee structure would support the administrative position and the equivalent of 1.8 full-time maintenance staff.
鈥淭he level of service will be brought up significantly from where we are now,鈥� he said.
Roberts added that the proposed fees would be in line with 麻豆精选鈥檚 rates and slightly higher than those of other municipalities in the region but still reasonable.
Coun. Rick de Jong supported the increase. 鈥淚t needs to be fully self-sustaining, and this is how we do it,鈥� he said.
Mayor Gord Milsom favoured the consultant鈥檚 recommended fee increases and the addition of two full-time positions.
鈥淭he benchmark plus 25 per cent鈥攖hat鈥檚 a significant increase.鈥�
Staff鈥檚 report also recommended changing the name from Westbank Cemetery to West 麻豆精选 Cemetery.
