Gregg County commissioners consider policy change for indigent cremations

LONGVIEW, Texas (KLTV) - Although we may not like to think about it, eventually many of us may have to confront the burial costs of a loved one. But when someone who’s homeless dies, who pays for it? The county does, and several Gregg County funeral directors made public comments at today’s commissioners court meeting, saying their costs have risen and are taking a loss for indigent cremation.

The Gregg County Health Department submitted a simplified Pauper’s Cremation Policy to be voted on by the Gregg County commissioners which includes a raised pay rate. That prompted five Gregg County funeral home directors to sign up for public comment. Welch Funeral Home Director Tony Aguilar said the approval for indigent cremation takes a lot of time, especially with an individual who has no family.

“All those cases where there are family members that are completing signed paperwork, it goes lot faster. But on average if it’s an individual that’s a transient that’s here, it’s three to four weeks sometimes longer,” Aguilar said.

Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt said funeral homes conduct searches for family members with county, state and federal help to track down a deceased indigent’s family. If they don’t find family members the county also conducts a search.

“So, we have to make sure that they sign the proper documents to allow us to do the cremation because we can’t do the cremation, especially if we find a living relative. It will be up to them to give us that authority,” Stoudt said.

Vince Williams with Bigham Mortuary said during that time a body must be stored in a cooler.

“You’re looking at like $130 a day,” Williams said.

Judge Stoudt said indigent cremation fees, $850 plus at times $250 to $400 for transportation, were set over a decade ago, and overhead has changed.

“And we’re still paying them what we were paying them ten years ago. And you get people not really wanting to provide that service if you’re going to be losing money every time you do it,” Stoudt said.

Stoudt said the county wants to come up with a process inclusive for all the local funeral homes.

“But at the same time, we’re compassionate to the deceased, as well as being prudent with Gregg County citizens’ tax dollars regarding providing a service,” Stoudt said.

The Gregg County Health Department said they handle 25 to 30 indigent deaths each year.

Commissioners are creating a committee headed by Commissioner Danny Craig, who owns a funeral home, to find the best rate that will involve all local funeral homes. Craig will not be offering an indigent cremation service since he believes it’s a conflict of interest. The revised Pauper’s Cremation Policy has been tabled for now.