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Casey Trees warns that proposed lapsing of tree fund and budget timing could halt plantings
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Summary
Casey Trees told the committee that DDOT's urban forestry capital funds look front-loaded for FY26 and disappear in later years, and that making the tree fund lapsing would jeopardize planting schedules, the DC State Nursery supply and programs that support vulnerable residents.
Rob Schott, director of tree operations at Casey Trees, told the committee that while the mayor's FY26 budget shows a one-time increase in urban forestry capital funding, the capital allocations drop to zero in FY27'FY29 and the tree fund is proposed to become a lapsing fund. He said those changes could remove the multi-year stability the Urban Forestry Division (UFD) and partners rely on.
Why it matters: Schott said the tree fund has historically covered a large share of UFD labor costs (about 43 FTEs) and supports programs including RiverSmart Homes, the DC State Nursery and the income-contingent Hazardous Tree Removal program. He said KC Trees (Casey Trees) has used $1,340,000 from the tree fund to grow 7,000 trees at the DC nursery and install 4,050 trees citywide. Making the fund lapsing risks losing funds to the general fund at year-end and disrupting fall planting windows.
Requests: Casey Trees asked the committee to keep the tree fund non-lapsing as directed by statute, to review the FY26'FY29 capital schedule to ensure staffing continuity and to move forward the Tree Preservation Enhancement Amendment Act of 2025 to increase removal fees indexed to inflation.
Ending: Chair Allen and witnesses agreed that the long-seasonal nature of tree work makes predictable multi-year funding important; the committee requested more detail from DDOT on staffing plans and capital phasing.
