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DEP budget holds steady; leaf blower rebates wind down with final $300,000 set for FY27
Summary
The Transportation and Environment Committee reviewed FY27 Department of Environmental Protection budget materials, which largely keep services steady and reduce one‑time outreach for the leaf blower program; DEP staff say $300,000 remains for commercial rebates and about $65,000 for outreach in FY27.
The Transportation and Environment Committee on April 20 reviewed the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) FY27 operating budget, which staff described as a “same‑services” plan with a modest net decrease to the general fund portion.
Mr. Levchenko, county staff, told the committee the accounting executive is recommending roughly $45.8 million across DEP funds and that the general fund portion shows a slight decrease driven by technical adjustments and previous drawdowns of one‑time funding. "There are no programmatic or staffing or significant staffing additions or reductions or enhancements to the general fund portion of the budget," he said.
Why it matters: committee members said the department’s programs—ranging from tree canopy work to stream restoration—depend on stable funding even as one‑time items phase out. The leaf blower program, enacted under prior legislation, is entering a wind‑down phase that will change how outreach and rebates are funded going forward.
Director Jennifer Macedonia (Department of Environmental Protection) told the committee, “We’re in the wind down of rollout for the leaf blower program. But we do have some funds available for both education and rebates in FY '27.” Mr. Levchenko provided the specific figures: "The rebates for '27 would be $300,000. That'll be the final year of the rebates," and there is about $65,000 for ongoing education outreach.
Amy Stevens, Watershed Restoration Division chief, described recent program activity: a residential trade‑in program this spring provided electric blowers to participants — "There are around 300 people that did that program," she said — and DEP has shifted to target commercial rebates starting in July.
Committee members sought specifics about rebate levels and uptake. Stevens recalled earlier program amounts: "It was $100 for residents, $1,500 for small businesses," though she cautioned some of the exact figures were recalled from memory. Council members asked staff to document the exact dollar flows and to bring more data to the full council so budget choices could be weighed against ongoing program needs.
What’s next: staff said they will document these program details and provide them during the broader budget reconciliation process. The committee did not propose cuts to DEP general fund programs at this session and signaled support for the same‑services budget pending further review.
Ending: For now DEP will carry the reduced outreach profile into FY27 while maintaining final rebates and targeted commercial outreach; staff will return to provide additional documentation before full council consideration.
