Here's What's Hot On CBS11TV.COM:
Nov 19, 2009 9:58 pm US/Central
Tarrant County Eyeing Ways To Cut Costs In Burials
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Tarrant
County spent $440,000 this fiscal year for paupers' burials. That's
$50,000 less than they spent the previous year. Still, County Commissioners are looking for ways to trim the budget. One
solution they're looking into? Cremation for every pauper's burial.
Rabbi
Alberto Zeilicovich of the Fort Worth Congregation
Ahavath Shalom says cremation is more
than a sin. "In Judaism, cremation is even
forbidden. It's not even an option."
A
Tarrant County burial costs about $1,100. A Tarrant County cremation costs
$460. In this
fiscal year, which ended in September, Tarrant
County buried 380 people and cremated 118. Tarrant County says cremations
only would save taxpayers money.
But,
County Commissioners first
want to know who if any other Texas counties offer cremation only. Gerald
Smith, the Tarrant County Human Services Director,
sent a questionnaire to all 254 counties across the state. Data returned will help Tarrant
County Commissioners make a final decision.
Rabbi
Zeilicovich says offering cremation only would be
like punishing people for being poor. And, for someone of his faith, unthinkable. "I
think that after what the Nazi's did, I don't know why any Jew would want to do that to a loved one."
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
CBS Mobile Launches Local News iPhone Apps
Click to enlarge
The Pluses & Penalties When It Comes To Credit 36 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments