MOUNT FOREST — Extended operation hours are coming to the Mount Forest Cemetery in 2025.
Following budget discussions at a Wellington North council meeting Monday afternoon, staff have been directed to slightly increase the municipality's 2025 budget to accommodate additional Saturday hours at the Mount Forest Cemetery from May to November following suggestions from a local funeral home last month.
Located at 411257 Southgate Road 41, the Mount Forest Cemetery currently requires families to be graveside between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. for Monday to Friday interments, with Saturday interments between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Anticipated to cost $20,500 annually, staff said this would increase the proposed 2025 tax levy increase from 3.05 per cent to 3.27 per cent.
A 4.5 per cent increase was initially proposed last month but staff said they've since deferred $12.3M in capital projects after council requested a maximum increase of 3.5 per cent in 2025.
These deferrals include $39,900 in cemetery capital projects like fence repairs and obtaining a survey and title clearance.
At the meeting, all councillors approved extending the hours, with Councillor Penny Renken saying it "puts the people's priorities first."
While supportive of the extended hours, Mayor Andy Lennox said he'd prefer to see municipal cemeteries be "more of a user-pay service;" voting in favour of no additional hours or projects.
Without the additional hours or proposed projects, the levy would be lowered to 3.05 per cent.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
