Funding for Tree Planting

Supervisor Bevin Dufty inquired about funding for street tree planting and maintenance during the 2005/2006 fiscal year. Proposition K sales tax revenue is allocated by the Transportation Authority to Department of Public Works for tree planting and maintenance services.

Friends of the Urban Forest's proposed contract for fiscal year 2005-06 will be reduced by 53 percent and, as a result of DPW's reduced Proposition K allocation, funding for the contract will be provided by traffic calming and Duke Settlement funds.

The original Proposition K expenditure plan for tree planting estimated that $41.0 million would be available over 30 years. Based on more recent sales tax projections, that estimate was reduced to $29.5 million. As a result of the revised sales tax projections, DPW's allocation of Proposition K funds was reduced from $1.2 million in FY 2004-05 to $857,000 in FY 2005-06. This represents a 29% reduction in DPW's Proposition K funding.

DPW outsources some tree planting and maintenance services. These outsourced services have generally gone to Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF). Of the $311,086 budgeted for tree planting for FUF in 2004-05, FUF has requested payment of $242,633 to date, leaving a balance of $68,453 for 2004-05.

Please note that Gas Tax and Sales Tax revenue dedicated to maintenance of existing trees are used to fund current employed City civil service tree crews. DPW is responsible for watering and caring for newly DPW-planted trees.