The city legislative body may acquire and maintain cemeteries, situated outside or inside of the city.
City PropertyCemeteries
Section § 37681
This law allows a city government to buy and maintain cemeteries, whether they are located within the city limits or outside of them.
city government cemeteries acquire cemeteries
Section § 37682
This law allows city governments to accept donations of at least $50, which will be kept in trust to care for specific cemetery plots indefinitely. The income from these donations goes into a special 'cemetery fund' within the city's treasury.
The legislative body may accept contributions of at least fifty dollars ($50) to be held in trust and the income used for the perpetual care of designated plots in the local city or community cemetery. The contributions shall be placed in the city treasury in a “cemetery fund.”
cemetery fund perpetual care contributions
Section § 37683
The city must appoint someone, either the city clerk or a qualified local, to manage a specific fund. The assigned person needs to provide a bond, an insurance-like guarantee set by the city, to ensure responsible management. They earn one dollar per year for each plot maintained, but this payment only comes from the fund's earnings.
The legislative body shall appoint the city clerk or a competent resident of the city to administer the fund. The person appointed shall execute an official bond in the amount prescribed by the legislative body and shall receive one dollar ($1) annually for each plot cared for, to be paid only from the income of the fund.
city clerk competent resident fund administration
Section § 37684
After spending money on taking care of grave sites and paying the fund manager, any leftover money should be used to maintain the roads, paths, and other areas of the cemetery.
Money remaining in the fund after expenditures for care of the plots and payment to the person administering the fund shall be used for care of the roads, walks, or other portions of the cemetery.
cemetery maintenance fund management plot care expenses
Section § 37685
If a city disbands, any trust fund it manages for a cemetery will be given to the county's board of supervisors where that cemetery is. The board will manage the fund until they find a suitable organization to take control of it.
If the city disincorporates, the trust fund shall be turned over to the board of supervisors of the county in which the cemetery is located. The board of supervisors shall act as trustees until they appoint a suitable organization to take charge of the fund.
city disincorporation cemetery trust fund county board of supervisors
