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DNR: Shade‑tree bond grants largely on hold pending OLA review of environmental‑justice criteria
Summary
Assistant Commissioner Bob Meyer told lawmakers the bulk of requests for the shade‑tree bond program are on hold after a legislative auditor inquiry about environmental‑justice criteria; DNR said it had received more requests than available funding and is closing earlier grant cycles while awaiting auditor direction.
Representative Jamie Finke asked the Department of Natural Resources about state tree‑planting funds that were authorized in recent biennia and whether the money had been spent.
“We received $16,800,000 in requests,” Assistant Commissioner Bob Meyer said of the shade‑tree (shade tree/shade show) grant program and related bond funds. He told the committee that some funds had been let out but “the bulk of them are on hold due to a legislative inquiry to the OLA on criteria that we're using to justify environmental justice areas.”
Meyer said DNR was closing out a prior $1 million program from 2020–24 and that other bond‑authorized funds remain paused until the Office of the Legislative Auditor provides guidance on the criteria the department used to classify environmental‑justice areas for grant awards. He also said that the agency wants to ensure those grant decisions comply with legislative intent and auditing guidance before distributing additional funds.
Representative Finke requested further information and follow‑up on the hold; DNR staff agreed to provide details when available. No formal action was taken at the hearing.
