Campton Cemetery referendum’s failure means cuts, tough decisions

The future is uncertain for several cemeteries after the Campton Township Cemetery District referendum failed Tuesday.

Voters resoundingly rejected the request for a rate increase by nearly 78%, with 3,080 no votes to 890 yes votes, a difference of 2,190 votes.

“We got killed,” said Cemetery Board Chairman John Hamer. “I’m going to get together with our board and figure out what to do. We cut to the bone already. It’s obvious what we are not maintaining.”

The request was for an increase from $2.71 per $100 equalized assessed valuation by $7.30, to achieve $10.01 per $100 equalized assessed valuation.

The current rate brings in $25,000. Hamer said the cemetery district needs $60,000 – which Hamer said is not enough to maintain its four cemeteries.

“I’m not going to maintain Foxfield (Cemetery) any more. God’s Little Acre backs up in the trees, so the grass is not growing like crazy. We can cut back there,” Hamer said. “Whitney and New Hampshire (cemeteries) are out in the open. The grass grows like crazy and the fence lines get messed up.”

Hamer said Campton Township officials offered to help with tree removal if a storm fells a tree.

“Cleaning up those big trees and getting them out of there – we don’t want homeowners out there with chainsaws,” Hamer said. “We have to have people who are licensed and insured and know what they are doing.”

One saving grace for this year is the sale of a few more cemetery plots which brought in $3,000, Hamer said.

“That’s helped a little bit,” Hamer said. “We’ll be able to scrape by.”

As to whether the cemetery board will ask voters again, Hamer said, “We’ll see next year.”