HENDERSON, N.C. — The city of Henderson will pay for maintenance at a historic cemetery through the end of the year. After that, it is anyone's guess what will happen.

Blacknall Cemetery is the first public burial ground open to African-Americans.

Maintaining the cemetery costs close to $14,000 a year. The city cannot afford to include those costs in next year's budget.

For now, the Public Works Department will keep up the property. After that, the city must decide what to do.