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County shifts funds to pay for pauper burial

By Max Hrenda

The county’s tradition of paying for the burial of the indigent took an odd turn Monday when the Carter County Budget Committee was told the county finance office lacked the means itself to pay for a recent pauper burial.

County Mayor Leon Humphrey told committee members at their Monday meeting that the county’s finance office did not have enough money to pay a local funeral home for a pauper burial.

“The finance director does not have any funds available,” Humphrey said. “So I’m coming to this committee tonight asking for funds to be taken from somewhere.”

Local funeral homes are compensated by the county for burial of pauper remains.

Cremation is the primary method of disposal, but in this instance, a request had been made for burial in a casket.