City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/625396
26 City Trees 26 City Trees If increasing or adding citywide taxes is unpalatable, then consider including urban forestry projects in Tax Increment Financing, Landscape and Lighting Assessment Districts, and other Special Benefit Assessment Districts. 8 Capital Improvement Project Budgets – If your city views trees as a capital asset (in which case, kudos to you!), then tree planting and sometimes maintenance can be a valid expenditure of large road, utility, or facility improve- ment projects. Milwaukee, Wisconsin has had success in making trees part of its right-of-way improvement projects for many years. 8 Stormwater Utility Fees - This funding mechanism should get your undivided attention. It merits your effort to learn about your city's stormwater fee system and asking for a piece of this pie. Milwaukee again leads the nation by example and has fully embraced funding its premiere urban forestry program through its stormwater utility fee. City leaders and staff understand that all of the urban forestry program's services manage vegetation that helps mitigate stormwater runoff. For example, Milwaukee's decision-makers understand the cause and effect ratio- nale and accept that the cost to treat 13,000 ash trees annually to prevent canopy loss and thus avert increases in stormwater runoff is a legitimate stormwater management activity that can be funded by the fee. With that level of awareness, they recently approved a small increase in the fee, and earmarked it for urban forestry. Since stormwater fees are assessed to all property owners, including those that would be exempt from taxes, the increase in the stormwater fee was relatively small compared to a tax levy increase. This was certainly a relatively painless, win-win budget decision. 8 Tree Work and Land Development Permit and Inspection Fees – To the extent permitted under state and municipal codes, permit and inspection fees can be a significant source of funding for your program. Urban forestry pro - grams should get reimbursed for the administrative time to review development permits applications, review plans, and make site inspections. The City of Pittsburgh recognizes this and their program receives a proportional share of the fees collected annually, which then helps offset personnel expenses and funds urban forest improvement projects. 8 Compensatory Payment, Land Development Mitigation, and Environmental Fines – When trees are damaged or removed (whether by an accident or a planned economic development project), municipalities should be compen- sated. Generally, this requirement and the compensation method should be codified, and should be clear about its applicability to public and/or private trees. Many, many cities across the U.S. have ordinances that stipulate this, and as a result have tree funds where compensatory pay- ments, mitigation, or "in lieu of" fees and environmental fines are deposited for a variety of uses and urban forest management projects. 8 Miscellaneous Funding Sources – While providing smaller amounts to your bottom line, these funding mechanisms and sources should not be ignored since every little bit of revenue can help you accomplish specific projects and keep your funding portfolio diversified. These could include Adopt-A-Street and memorial and honor tree programs; wood product sales; utility bill donations; community or organizational fund-raising events; revenues from munic- ipally-owned concessions and recreational facilities; and cash and in-kind donations. Adequate funding is one of the greatest challenges facing urban forests today. Without sufficient resources to secure profes- sional services, equipment, and management, an urban forestry program cannot fulfill its mission, respond to changes and chal- lenges, and ultimately best serve the public. No matter what funding sources you decide to pursue, follow these steps to increase your odds to get what you need: 1. Tell your story with words and a plot. In the budget process, too often we focus just on the numbers. Tell the decision-maker why two more staff is needed; describe the condition of the 100 trees to be removed; and detail the con- sequences of not getting the $50,000 budget increase requested. 2. Don't bury your lead. Your funding request should have one message that is up-front and clear. Before you even think about presenting any numbers, tell the decision-maker right away what is going to happen in the urban forest over the budget cycle, why it is needed, what goals will be realized, and what benefits will be provided. 3. Use visuals frequently. Columns of numbers can be boring at best and become incomprehensible at worst. Use graphs and photographs to illustrate your point in your budget documents. 4. Name your challenges. Don't be afraid to be blunt; for example, you can say, "Given the woeful under- investment in maintaining the urban forest, the condition of this valuable asset is declining/will decline, and this will be the result." When requesting additional or new funding, clearly state the need, explain why, and say what's needed to keep the condition steady or to improve it. By naming your challenges, presenting solutions, and putting a price tag on it, your budget request can start a civic-minded conversation of how to gain more urban forestry investment from and for your community.