In the early years of the State, small cemeteries were formed by the church and fraternal organizations. By the turn of the century, however many had fallen into disrepair; citizens became outraged over the gross neglect suffered by many of these privately founded cemeteries.  So, in 1909 the enabling act creating public cemeteries was adopted. The purpose was to assure Californians that cemeteries holding their loved ones would be cared for in a dignified and respectful manner. Today over 256 communities are served by public Cemetery Districts throughout California.  Shasta Valley Cemetery District was formed by special election of the voters within the district boundaries in 1951. Public Cemetery districts follow the Brown Act and the Health and Safety Code rules.  Trustees are responsible for setting Policies and fees, and approving financial decisions, pertaining to the operation of the district. The SVCD Board employs a District Grounds Administrator and District Office Manager and authorizes the hire of temporary worker as needed to help with burials and cemetery maintenance, as the budget allows. It’s a big job to maintain eight cemeteries, perform approximately seventy burials a year and handle many customers in the district office each year.  Cremations have become quite popular in the last few years due to the economy and financial conditions.  This has decreased the District’s income significantly.

The State’s Health and Safety Code was written to avoid competition between public and private cemeteries.  For example, public cemeteries cannot operate mortuaries, conduct funeral activities, build crematoriums, construct mausoleums, or sell memorial markers.  In a word, public cemeteries cannot provide the very services that could help them to become self sufficient.  Public cemeteries are tax based agencies for the tax payers in their districts.  It is not possible for Cemetery Districts to generate enough revenue to operate without some property tax support. SVCD’s annual tax base is approximately $107,000.00. Cemetery Districts are able to charge for a few services such as burial rights, or opening and closing of graves, transferring Certificates of Burial Rights, work application fees for monument companies and customers to set headstones and concrete curbing around graves, out of district fees, and the sale of grave liners.  However, there is no way to charge fully for all the services provided. For example, Cemetery Districts have inherited tens of thousands of unendowed plots that must be cared for and hundreds of acres of land with no way to charge for their maintenance. Without the ability to compete on equal ground with private cemeteries, the public cemeteries must rely on property tax support to maintain services. Since 1985, all public cemeteries have been required to collect endowment fees to fund long-term maintenance. As of January 1st, 2004, public cemeteries are allowed to charge an endowment fee (at time of burial) on plots bought pre-1985.   These funds sit in an account with the County of Siskiyou and may not be used unless the District is closed or a cemetery is completely full and is no longer generating income. It will be many years before these endowments reach the point where they can make a significant contribution to maintenance costs. Currently the SVCD Endowment fees are $400.00 on a full burial, or $200.00 on a cremation burial.   All Public Cemetery Districts are faced with difficult challenges, especially financial. To meet these challenges, Cemetery Districts have made many changes in the way they operate. In 2005 SVCD completed a 96 niche Columbarium and Ossuary in Evergreen Cemetery, for interment of cremains and also initiated a Pre-need contract program in hopes of increasing revenue to the district.  In 2008 the District added another Columbarium in the St. Joseph Cemetery and in 2009 a Veteran’s Section was added in Evergreen Cemetery. In 2011 the local American Legion, Ross Neilon Post #122 constructed a large kiosk in the Veteran Section in the Evergreen Cemetery.  The kiosk can be used for all burial services. SVCD operates on a fiscal year from July 1st to June 30th.  The Siskiyou County Auditor acts as our treasurer, and therefore writes all our warrants once presented with a warrant request form that is signed by three board members and the Office Manager.

SVCD’s eight cemeteries are Evergreen, The Old City, and Saint Joseph’s cemeteries within Yreka’s city limits. Montague, Little Shasta, Edgewood, Foulke and Gazelle cemeteries are the outlying cemeteries.   All SVCD cemeteries are in need of more maintenance than can be handled by one full time employee.  At the present time the District has old equipment, is in need of a new shop to house the equipment and vehicles, and a larger more visible district office, as well as major repairs to existing roads and ancient deteriorating water systems.