Resources

The below programs are cost-saving tools to strengthen Wyoming’s counties. Built around counties, these solutions leverage shared services, collaborative purchasing, and streamlined processes to reduce expenses and enhance overall efficiency. Together, they support local governments in delivering high-quality services while maximizing limited public resources. The WCCA continues to evaluate additional solutions to ensure counties have access to innovative, practical tools to support their evolving needs.

County Indigent Burial Program

The County Indigent Burial Program is administered by the WCCA and assists counties to offset their expenses for the burial or cremation of deceased individuals who did not have sufficient means or other resources to provide for such.

Eligibility Factors
The decedent must meet the following criteria for assistance to be provided:

NOT receiving Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Personal Opportunities with Employment Responsibilities (POWER) at time of death; and
Without sufficient means in his own estate or other resources to provide burial or cremation.

Allowable Expenditures
Except where a county has formally established alternative standards, the WCCA will reimburse counties for these expenses:

Burial:
1. removal of the deceased from place of death to a mortuary;
2. minimum services of staff;
3. professional embalming when required;
4. other preparation of the body (dressing and casketing);
5. graveside committal service if requested;
6. minimum casket offered on casket price list; and/or
7. hearse to cemetery.

Cremation:
1. removal of the deceased from place of death to a mortuary;
2. minimum services of staff;
3. professional embalming when required;
4. minimum cremation container;
5. transportation to crematory;
6. cost of cremation;
7. return of ashes to next of kin; and/or
8. graveside service for interment of ashes if requested.

Payment Information
The burial assistance program is 100% state general fund provided by death certificate fees (see 35-1-428).

Request for Assistance

If a funeral home is interested in requesting reimbursement for indigent burial expenses, the funeral home should first contact the appropriate county coroner, which can be found through the County Explorer. Each county will process and reimburse funeral home indigent burial claims and, thereafter, may request reimbursement from the WCCA.

Each county is responsible for accounting for its annual indigent burial expenses. As a county incurs expenses, the county may request reimbursement from the WCCA. Annually in July, the WCCA will process reimbursements up to $1,500 except where insufficient reimbursement funds exist, whereby the WCCA will process reimbursements so that each county receives an equal percentage.

COUNTY EXPLORER

Statutory Authority W.S. 35-1-428 (c), states: “In addition to the fees imposed by department of health rules under subsection (a) of this section and the surcharges imposed under subsection (b) of this section, the department shall collect a surcharge of five dollars ($5.00) for each copy of a death certificate issued pursuant to this article. Revenues collected from the surcharge imposed under this subsection shall be deposited by the department in the indigent persons burial account, which is hereby created. All funds within the account shall be invested by the state treasurer and all investment earnings from the account shall be deposited in the account. Subject to legislative appropriation, the department of family services shall disperse one-half (1/2) of the funds within the account to counties that made a request for reimbursement under W.S. 18-3-504(c) or 19-14-101(a) and the remaining one-half (1/2) of funds shall be available to the department of family services for expenses incurred under W.S. 42-2-103(c). If a legislative appropriation is insufficient to reimburse all county reimbursement requests, the department of family services shall disperse the available funds so that each county that made a reimbursement request receives equal percentage reimbursements.” W.S. 18-3-504 (c), states: “Each board of county commissioners shall provide for the burial or cremation of the human remains of any deceased person not receiving personal opportunities with employment responsibilities (POWER) assistance, supplemental security income or Medicaid under the Wyoming Public Assistance and Social Services Act at the time of death and without sufficient means in his own estate or other resources to provide burial or cremation. The amount paid under this subsection for burial or cremation shall not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00). Each board shall account for the county expenses incurred under this subsection during a fiscal year. By August 1 of each year, a county may request reimbursement by the department of family services for the expenses incurred under this subsection for the preceding fiscal year. The department of family services shall reimburse the expenses in accordance with W.S. 35-1-428(c).” W.S. 19-14-101 (a), states: “The board of county commissioners of each county shall provide for the preparation of the body and transmittal to and burial in the veteran’s cemetery of any other than a dishonorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States who served on behalf of the United States in any war or conflict as defined in section 101, title 38, United States Code and who dies leaving insufficient funds to defray the necessary funeral expenses. The amount expended for transporting the body shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00). The amount paid under this section for burial shall not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00). Each board shall account for the county expenses incurred under this subsection during a fiscal year. By August 1 of each year, a county may request reimbursement by the department of family services for the expenses incurred under this subsection for the preceding fiscal year. The department of family services shall reimburse the expenses in accordance with W.S. 35-1-428(c).”

The WCCA has partnered with Amazon Business to provide every Wyoming county with an Amazon Business account FOR FREE—a benefit worth $3,499 per year! Your account delivers enterprise-grade procurement tools and Prime-speed shipping to all county staff. Amazon Business Prime benefits include unlimited users, fast and free shipping, government discounts, invoicing and compliance, and an account executive, all with the familiar experience of Amazon Prime.

Existing members will receive a pro-rated refund when upgrading with the WCCA Account Code. Contact Lindsey Goodman at 307-632-5409 with questions.

The WCCA has partnered with Public Surplus to provide discounts for our county members when conducting online surplus auctions, including vehicles and real estate sales. Once registered, counties and their buyers receive savings on any online sale that is done through the Public Surplus auction platform.

Public Surplus has founded in 2001 in Provo, Utah and has grown to become the largest government auction service in the United States. Their experience and innovative online portal help streamline, among other things, the tax sale process that counties are obligated to perform. Public Surplus is proud to partner with the WCCA and to help innovate the government auction sector.Register now to begin receiving your discounts. If you have any questions about the program, please reach out to Jerimiah Rieman.