Stow Burial, Plots More Expensive After Fee Increase

Want to be buried in Stow? 

That's fine, the city has room in one of its cemeteries — but it will cost residents about $100 more and $200 more for non-residents after Stow City Council approved the rate increase June 23.

Grave rates will be changed from $425 to $525 for residents and $550 to $750 for non-residents.

Fees for burial are also increasing from $425 to $525 for both non-residents and residents.

For both, that's a $200 increase ($1,050) for residents and $300 ($1,275) increase for those living outside of Stow.

There are some exceptions, like what time the burial will be finished and if it's a holiday or weekend. See the attached .pdf for the changes. The old costs are at the top of the page and the new prices are located at the bottom.

Cemetery Board President Keith Redmon said the fees haven't been adjusted since 2003.

"It's long overdue … one of the goals of the cemetery board has always been to make cemetery property and fees affordable while still covering expenses the city occurs," said Redmon.

He added that Stow's fees are still less expensive than in neighboring communities like Tallmadge and Cuyahoga Falls.

Thinking of buying a grave before the increase? The new, more expensive fees go into effect Aug. 1.

The only Stow cemetery where plots are still being sold is at Silver Springs Cemetery, 5080 Stow Rd. The other two cemeteries are Stow Cemetery at 3162 Kent Rd. and Maple Lawn Cemetery at 4915 Darrow Rd.

Councilmen Matt Riehl and Mike Rasor voted against the increase.

"This is another tax increase on our residents. We don't need to be increasing taxes on our residents during these tough economic times," said Riehl. "The death of a family member is a tough time for anyone, and the last thing we need to be doing is taxing them more."

The fees shouldn't be increased again for another five or six years, said Redmon.

"Our residents live in this community, work in this community and pay taxes in the community. The city should not be raising fees on them," said Riehl.

A portion of the fee is put into a municipal perpetual care fund to keep up with the maintenance of the three cemeteries. 

For more information, call 330-689-2828.

Editor's note: contributed to this story.