Statement from the Board of Selectmen Regarding Floral Park Cemetery Maintenance

Statement from the Board of Selectmen Regarding Floral Park Cemetery Maintenance

June 16, 2026

The Pittsfield Board of Selectmen understands and shares residents' concerns regarding the current condition of Floral Park Cemetery and would like to provide information regarding the circumstances affecting cemetery mowing and maintenance this year.

The Town's 2026 operating budget is being administered under the default budget approved by voters at Town Meeting. Under New Hampshire law, a default budget is based primarily on the prior year's appropriations, with certain required adjustments. Because funding for the cemetery mowing contract was not included in the 2025 operating budget, it was not part of the 2026 default budget ultimately approved by voters.

The mowing contract funding was removed as part of the Budget Committee's reduction of $423,952 from the 2025 operating budget. Both the Cemetery Trustees and the Board of Selectmen supported restoring funding for cemetery mowing during the budget process; however, the proposed funding was not approved.

Recognizing the importance of maintaining the cemetery for spring visitation and Memorial Day observances, the Select Board discussed the issue at its April 27, 2026 meeting. Information was presented regarding per diem mowing bids and the need for funding to prepare the cemetery for Mother's Day and Memorial Day. Following that discussion, the Board unanimously voted to allocate $3,500 from available funds to support cemetery mowing during the month of May. Those funds, along with other available resources, allowed the cemetery to be maintained through Memorial Day.

In 2025, the Select Board was able to identify sufficient unspent funds within the Public Works budget to cover cemetery mowing expenses. In 2026, however, rising operational costs and a more constrained budget have significantly limited the availability of funds that can be reallocated. The funds approved for May mowing have been exhausted, and no dedicated funding remains for continued mowing services.

The Board revisited the issue during its June 9, 2026 meeting following inquiries from residents regarding the condition of the cemetery. During that discussion, Board members noted that while everyone would like to see the cemetery maintained on a regular basis, the Town must operate within the budget authorized by voters. The Board also discussed the challenges of assigning additional responsibilities to Town departments that are already operating with limited personnel and resources.

Questions have also been raised regarding the use of perpetual care funds. Perpetual care funds cannot legally be used to pay for general cemetery mowing expenses. By law, only the earnings generated from perpetual care trust funds may be spent. Furthermore, not every cemetery lot has perpetual care associated with it, and many perpetual care contributions were established decades ago in amounts ranging from approximately $50 to $350. The interest generated from those funds is not sufficient to support annual cemetery maintenance costs.

In fact, the inability of perpetual care funds to adequately support cemetery operations was one of the primary reasons the Town assumed ownership and maintenance responsibility for Floral Park Cemetery from the Cemetery Association in 2015. The expectation was that cemetery maintenance would be funded through the municipal budget as approved by voters.

The Town has also taken steps to address this issue for future generations. Several years ago, the Cemetery Trustees discontinued the use of perpetual care for newly sold lots and established a Cemetery Maintenance Fund to help support long-term cemetery improvements and maintenance needs. However, those funds are intended for future cemetery needs and are not currently available to solve the immediate mowing shortfall.

The Board is aware that some residents have expressed interest in mowing portions of the cemetery themselves and appreciates the community's willingness to help. However, Floral Park Cemetery is Town-owned property, and unauthorized mowing or maintenance activities present significant liability concerns. These concerns include the risk of personal injury, damage to monuments, markers, cemetery infrastructure, or historic burial sites. For these reasons, residents are asked not to perform mowing or maintenance activities at the cemetery without prior authorization and coordination through the Town and Cemetery Trustees.

The Board is also aware of concerns regarding RSA 289:4 and the Town's obligation to maintain public cemeteries. It is important to understand that while the municipality bears that responsibility, the authority to fund municipal operations rests with the legislative body of the Town—the voters. The Select Board cannot spend money that has not been appropriated. The cemetery mowing appropriation recommended by the Cemetery Trustees and Select Board was not approved through the budget process and therefore was not included in the default budget adopted by the voters. The current funding shortfall is a direct result of the budget appropriations available to the Town in 2026.

During the June 9^th BOS discussion, the Select Board explored potential options for the remainder of the year, including whether Town personnel may be able to assist with mowing if sufficient funding can be identified for fuel, equipment operation, maintenance, and related expenses. No decisions were made at that meeting, and further review is required.

The Board recognizes that this situation is frustrating for residents and disappointing for those who care deeply about the appearance and maintenance of Floral Park Cemetery. The current circumstances are the direct result of operating under the voter-approved default budget, which does not contain funding for a cemetery mowing contract.

The Select Board remains committed to reviewing the Town's financial position throughout the year. If unspent funds become available in other areas of the budget, the Board may consider reallocating those funds to support additional cemetery maintenance, consistent with applicable laws and budgetary requirements.

This issue will be discussed further with the Cemetery Trustees at the Select Board's next meeting on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall. Residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussion as the Town continues to evaluate available options.

The Board appreciates the community's patience and understanding as it works to balance the many needs of the Town within the financial resources authorized by the voters.