The following testimony was presented on June 2, 2025, by Robert Shaut, Director of Tree Operations (Casey Trees), to the DC Council’s Committee on Transportation & the Environment (Chair – Councilmember Charles Allen) during the 2025 public hearings for performance oversight and fiscal year budget schedules.
“Good morning Council-Chair Allen, Councilmembers, and staff. I’m Rob Shaut, the Director of Tree Operations at Casey Trees. As an organization, we’d like to thank the Mayor, Director Kershbaum, and Council for your continued support of DDOT’s Urban Forestry Division (UFD). We commend UFD’s ongoing work to care for DC’s tree canopy and the commitment of their talented arborists to ensuring that every ward of our city is green and thriving!
We recognize that the district is facing many challenges in this FY26 budget, and we’re appreciative that the Urban Forestry Division’s overall level of funding appears to be predominantly consistent with last year. This level of funding and staffing is critical to ensuring our city meets its 40% tree canopy goal by 2032.
However, we are concerned that there are flags and uncertainty in the budget in regards to how those funds are distributed and what programs and services may be impacted. For instance, the Urban Forestry Division’s Capital Budget appears to have zeroed out Tree Planting funds in FY26 and zeroed out all Capital Funds starting in FY27… These capital funds have historically covered a majority of UFD’s labor costs, including 43 FTEs. We urge the Council to look into this alarming projection and ensure UFD remains staffed and funded consistently this year and in the coming years to ensure their critical programs and services continue running smoothly.
We are also concerned that the Tree Fund is slated to become a “lapsing fund” starting this fiscal year. This undermines the intent of the Tree Fund to mitigate the impacts of tree removals by collecting fees that pay for replacement tree plantings. By changing this to a lapsing fund, those tree planting dollars may be sent to the city’s General Fund and used for other purposes. Those replacement trees may never be planted, creating a net loss of tree canopy within the District. It could also create ineffective uses in the deployment of funds due to a “use or lose” mentality and creates instability in the programs supported by the Tree Fund. Additionally, the lapsing fund could mitigate the effectiveness of the income-contingent program for hazardous tree removal. A program utilized to supplement under-invested communities.
The Tree Fund supports the Riversmart Homes program, the DC State Tree Nursery and the Income-Contingent Hazardous Tree Removal Program. Casey Trees works in partnership with the city on both the RiverSmart Homes program and hosts the DC State Tree Nursery. Collectively, 1.34 Million Dollars of those funds helped Casey Trees grow 7,000 trees at the DC State Nursery specifically for use in the district and assisted Casey Trees in the installation of 4,050 trees across the city.
Lastly, the needs of trees don’t always align nicely within a fiscal year, and having the Tree Fund available when needed is critical to fostering a safe and growing urban canopy. We urge the Mayor and Council to ensure the integrity of the Tree Fund by retaining it as a non-lapsing special purpose revenue fund as directed by Statute.
As a city partner of over 20 years, Casey Trees understands the importance of Private-Public Partnerships, especially during tight budget years. We are proud of our long partnership with the city and are always looking for ways to offer additional support. Casey Trees has built a strong network of engaged community leaders across the District. We are willing to use our expertise and resources to assist the urban forest by training and supporting these residents on basic care such as watering, mulching, pruning and planting. Allowing trained and engaged residents to take on some of this work on a volunteer basis would free up valuable time and resources for UFD. This would come at no cost to the City.
Finally, we hope the Council expeditiously moves forward the TREE PRESERVATION ENHANCEMENT AMENDMENT ACT of 2025, which not only protects more of our city’s Special Trees, but it also ensures permit fees are properly adjusted to inflation thereby helping the city keep pace with increased tree planting costs.
Council Chair Allen, as you know – for the fifth straight year Washington, DC has been named the best City in the United States of America for our city’s Parks. In DC, parks are an integral part of our history – dating back to the L’Enfant plan. These green spaces were strategically located in the original layout of the City. Alongside the parks network were the spaces in front of our homes, once considered parks. Street trees were incorporated as mini parks throughout the City to offer the myriads of benefits that we know and appreciate. We have a history of prioritizing trees in our communities across Washington, DC – and that requires continued investment, maintenance and attention – even in challenging years.
The investments we make today in our city’s tree canopy will compound in public health, community and climate resilience benefits far into the future. It is imperative that we prioritize protecting and funding our tree canopy for the benefit of our residents and future generations of Washingtonians.
Thank you for your time and the opportunity to testify today.”