Video Story
Watch VideoCity trading cemetery plots for overtime
Story By: Bea Karnes
Source: NBC
Economic woes have plenty of cities and counties looking for ways to save money. Dade City, Florida is hoping that the offer of an eternal resting place to city employees will help solve its financial woes.
The plan was hatched when a Dade City employee suggested cashing in her offset overtime by buying a grave at the city-owned cemetery. Dade City Finance Director Jim Class says the plan could save the town roughly $60,000, much of which would be reinvested into the city.
City employees have 60 days to decide if they want to take part in the offer. The cemetery plots normally go for about $350. Donnie Shive is one of the employees eligible to trade comp time for a cemetery plot.
He's been with public works for over 30 years and has almost 200 hours of comp time built up. "I probably earned this comp time 25 years ago, maybe 30, back then we were allowed to accumulate it and now I understand of it being a liability with the city, having that much time on the books, which I don't mind burning," he said.
The city is also looking to expand the cemetery by trading equipment and other land in the area.
