Greene mayor says USDA rescinded urban forestry grant; city weighing appeal and short-term local funding

Mayor Yergan told the finance committee on April 8 that the USDA Forest Service abruptly terminated the Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act grant program effective April 4, rescinding the remaining roughly $175,000 of a $263,000 award the city received in 2023. "While the City did receive the first installment of $87,808," Yergan said, "the remaining two thirds of the grant, about $175,000, will no longer be disbursed."

The mayor said the grant had been intended to hire a full-time urban forester to manage the health and safety of the city's tree canopy across parkland and public spaces. He described the rescission as "deeply disappointing" and said the city is cooperating with a formal appeal by the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. "We remain committed to that vision," Yergan said, citing trees' value for air quality, stormwater management, property values and public safety.

Yergan told the committee the city intends to bring future legislation asking council to approve a transfer from city funds to cover the urban forester's salary for this year, pending the appeal outcome. He emphasized the rescission was a federal decision affecting many municipalities and said Greene will pursue both the appeal and local contingency plans.

Committee members did not take a vote at the meeting; the mayor said the administration will present a formal appropriation or transfer ordinance for council consideration in coming weeks. The appeal and any local funding action will determine whether the city can maintain the planned forestry position this year.