No More Funeral Cars for Broke Dead People?
New Hampshire is making some major cuts in its budget to save money. That’s no different than what other states are doing these days. But New Hampshire may bury the idea of paying for the funeral services of people who cannot afford them.
Until now, the state of New Hampshire budgeted about $25,000 to pay for funeral services for broke deceased people. The state would pay funeral homes for the expenses to bury or cremate the people, which would cost between $500 and $750 per person. With the new proposal, however, local municipalities would get stuck with the bill.
But some are not happy with the change. Kevin Bates, the president of the New Hampshire Local Welfare Administrators Association, had this to say about the plans: “For the most part we’re talking about people who die with no identifiable relatives in subsidized housing. We’re talking about a real small sum of money.” He also said that Portsmouth, the town in which he is director, has only paid for 23 funerals since 2001.
Could this be the end of subsidized funerals and funeral cars for the less fortunate in New Hampshire? Should taxpayers end up with the bill to bury or cremate the less fortunate? Let us know your thoughts below.
Filed Under: Funeral Cars
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