NORWICH – A policy change mandated by the New York State Department of Health recently led lawmakers into the sad discussion of burials for Chenango County’s deceased poor.

State law requires taxpayers to pay 95 percent of the cost of indigent burials and for counties to come up with a level of pay for them. The level of pay established in Chenango County back in 2006 was based on income eligibility guidelines for the federal cash assistance program. It also allowed friends and families to supplement at an amount of their choice.

Now, counties will pay a flat rate of $2,350 per funeral with contributions from family and friends limited to $3,000.

Department of Social Services Commissioner Bette Osborne, whose department oversees the program locally, said the previous policy was “convoluted” and led to individuals receiving assistance when they could otherwise pay.

“The assumption is that if they can pay more than that, they wouldn’t be eligible. This still allows the family to contribute, and is more fair to the families, and more fair to the taxpayer,” she said.

Osborne attempted to control costs on behalf of the county back in 2009 when there were 74 burials at a cost of about $200,000. An adjustment to the income eligibility requirement meant for fewer burials, 45, in 2011.

With the new policy in place, counties will receive $160 from the state per burial, indigent burials are better defined and funeral directors should break even with the change, she said.