Disinterment, Cremation Fees Rise
By Jacob Mathias
Costs for Portage County Coroner services for cremation and disinterment increased this week after being approved by the Portage County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
The cost of cremation has increased from $75 to $150 in anticipation of a fee increase freeze in Governor Scott Walker’s 2015 budget.
A new budget provision will freeze the allowable coroner fees for two years and thereafter increases will be limited to the rate of the Consumer Price Index.
Officials from the Portage County Safety Committee said without raising the fee, it will be difficult to conduct future operations.
County leaders said the increased fees remain one of the lowest in Wisconsin. To compare, Marathon County’s cremation fee is $250 and disinterment is $175.