City raises amount it pays for funerals

City councillors have voted to bump up the amount the municipality pays for funeral services for those in need.

But the plan is not what Funeral Homes in Hamilton -- the group the city had been in talks with -- wanted to see. They had asked for a phased-in increase over three years and wanted to increase adult funeral costs to $3,950.

Citing the fact that some homes in the city would offer an adult full service funeral for the new price, staff recommended going ahead with that increase.

Adult full service rates will rise from $1,968.88 to $2,258.73 plus tax, a 14.7 per cent increase. Cremation fees will also increase 14.7 per cent to a maximum of $328.48 plus tax and the cost of child services will be bumped up 2.3 per cent. An annual increase in 2010 was also approved by staff. This move still needs approval of council.