Marion County officials are expected to vote Tuesday on a contract renewal that would increase the cost of providing final arrangements for unclaimed resident corpses.
The request, which is part of the consent agenda for the April 7 meeting of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners, involves a revised agreement with Gratitude & Compassion, LLC, doing business as Roberts of Ocala Funerals and Cremation.
Under the proposed terms, the county’s annual expenditure for these services is estimated at $90,000.
According to a staff memo, Roberts has provided care and disposition for unclaimed decedents in Marion County since October 2020.
The services include the respectful removal, storage, cremation, and disposition of human remains, as well as the completion of all required legal and administrative paperwork.
While the board initially approved a five-year renewal for the firm in January, the agreement was never executed due to a change in management at the funeral home. Following that transition, the company requested a rate adjustment to reflect current service costs.
If approved tomorrow, the cost per unclaimed body will increase from $720 to $900. The renewed contract would extend through October 31, 2031.
County staff recommends approval of the request, noting that Roberts has consistently performed the services in a “professional and satisfactory manner.”
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners next meets at 9 a.m. at the McPherson Governmental Campus, which is located at 601 SE 25th Avenue in Ocala.