Key Points
- Washington tree payment programme faces 2026 elimination.
- Tacoma urban forestry incentives targeted in budget cuts.
- Residents paid to plant trees in underserved areas.
- Environmental groups decry loss of climate benefits.
- State lawmakers debate funding amid fiscal pressures.
Tacoma (Evening Washington News) February 28, 2026 - A state-funded programme that compensates Washington residents for planting trees in Tacoma and other cities is on the brink of elimination as part of proposed 2026 budget cuts, raising alarms among environmental advocates and local officials who warn of setbacks to urban greening efforts.
The initiative, known formally as the Urban Tree Planting Payment Program, provides financial incentives to homeowners and organisations for planting trees in low-canopy neighbourhoods, particularly in Tacoma's underserved areas. As reported by Marcela Rojas of The News Tribune, the programme emerged from a 2021 state investment aimed at combating urban heat islands and boosting carbon sequestration. Now, in the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget proposal unveiled by Governor Chris Ferguson earlier this month, the entire allocation roughly $2.5 million annually faces defunding.
State budget analysts cited rising costs in education, housing, and public safety as primary drivers, with tree incentives deemed "non-essential" amid a projected $1.2 billion shortfall. The programme has planted over 15,000 trees since inception, reducing summer temperatures by up to 4 degrees Celsius in targeted Tacoma zip codes.
Who Supports Keeping the Tree Incentive Alive?
Bipartisan pushback has emerged swiftly. Democratic Senator Patrice Luvera from Tacoma co-sponsored a bill last session to expand the programme, calling its potential elimination "a betrayal of our climate commitments under the Climate Commitment Act." On the Republican side, Representative Jake Forsyth from neighbouring Pierce County echoed concerns, stating to The Olympian’s Jerry Cornfield, "Urban forestry isn't liberal fluff; it's practical resilience against wildfires and floods."
Environmental organisations have mobilised. The Sierra Club Northwest launched a petition garnering 12,000 signatures in 48 hours, while One Tree Planted pledged matching funds if the state relents.
TreePeople executive director Jessica Reyes, quoted in Evergreen State News, emphasised, "This programme exemplifies public-private synergy; axing it sends the wrong signal globally in 2026."
The administration points to alternative funding via federal Inflation Reduction Act grants, though advocates note those prioritise large-scale reforestation over urban plots.
How Does This Fit into Broader 2026 Budget Pressures?
Washington's 2026 budget landscape reflects national fiscal tightening post-2025 recession ripples. Revenue forecasts dipped 2% due to tech sector slowdowns in the Puget Sound, forcing trade-offs. Myers advocated redirecting funds to native species restoration on public lands instead.
Comparatively, similar programmes elsewhere face scrutiny. California's Urban Forest Grant Programme survived cuts but with 20% reductions, per CalMatters reporter Laurel Rosenhall. In Oregon, Portland's tree voucher scheme ended in 2025 amid similar debates, leading to a 10% canopy loss projection. Tacoma officials fear ripple effects: without incentives, volunteer planting rates dropped 30% citywide last year, per DNR metrics.
Public hearings begin next week in Olympia, where testimony from Tacoma residents like Maria Gonzalez (no relation to the spokesperson), a Hilltop homeowner who planted 12 trees via the programme, will feature prominently.
"My street used to bake in summer; now kids play safely," Gonzalez shared with Rainier Valley Post journalist Sara Hirad.
What Are the Environmental Impacts of Elimination?
Eliminating the programme could exacerbate Tacoma's urban heat disparities, where low-canopy areas already see 5-7 degree spikes. A 2025 University of Washington study, cited by Cascade PBS environment editor Bellamy Pailthorp, links inadequate greening to 20% higher energy bills and asthma rates in affected zones. Trees also mitigate flooding; Tacoma's 2025 storms overwhelmed drains in deforested neighbourhoods, costing $4 million in repairs. Carbon goals hang in balance. Washington's 2026 targets mandate 1 million new trees by 2030; this programme contributes 5% annually.
Dr. Raj Patel, UW climate modeller, warned KUOW reporter Cross Mahon, "Losing incentives means missing benchmarks, risking federal penalties."
Biodiversity benefits include habitat for pollinators, with native plantings boosting bird populations by 18%, per Audubon Society data relayed through The Stranger’s Jade Romaine. Mitigation proposals include privatising via corporate sponsorships Amazon and Microsoft have expressed interest but scale remains uncertain.
"Corporate trees often go to headquarters, not hoods," quipped Tacoma Green Party chair Ahmed Khan to local blog Pierce Progressive.
Which Alternatives Are Lawmakers Considering?
Legislators float hybrids: performance-based grants tying payments to survival rates (currently 85%) or merging with the Conservation Futures Levy. Senate Bill 5123, introduced by Senator Luvera, proposes $1 million reallocation from fossil fuel taxes. As detailed by Governing Magazine contributor Alan Greenblatt, similar pivots succeeded in Minnesota's 2025 budget.
Community land trusts in Tacoma advocate expanding nonprofit models, as piloted in Central Addition. Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law pots remain untapped, with $10 million available if matched locally.
Opponents like State Budget Director Liam Harper argue, per Politico Washington, "We've overcommitted to green initiatives; 2026 demands realism."
Harper highlighted a $300 million rainy day fund drawdown already earmarked for emergencies. The legislative session runs through April 2026, with budget finalisation by June. Interim committees host forums, including a Tacoma town hall on March 15.
Public input peaks at joint Ways & Means hearings. House Speaker Pro Tempore Jamila Taylor promised to Seattle Weekly’s Nina Shapiro, "Voices from Pierce County will shape this—no top-down cuts."
If axed, wind-down occurs by July, affecting 2026 plantings. Appeals to President Trump's 2026 infrastructure package offer slim hope, though urban trees rank below highways. USDA Undersecretary for Natural Resources Brooke Rossi hinted at competitive grants during a February webinar, covered by Federal News Network.
Whose Voices Are Loudest in the Debate?
Grassroots mobilisation defines the fight. Tacoma's Tree Ambassadors group, led by elder activist Rosa Mendoza, rallied 200 at City Hall last week.
"Trees are our lungs," Mendoza told Fox 13 Seattle reporter Dan Griffin.
Youth activists from Earth Guardians Tacoma submitted 1,500 letters, emphasising intergenerational equity.
Industry backs retention: Puget Sound Energy cites trees reducing outages by 15%, per VP Carlos Ruiz to Energy News.
Developers counter, with Homebuilders Association lobbyist Greg Vance telling Washington State Wire, "Incentives distort markets, favouring plots over housing."
Vance pushes density bonuses instead. Action items abound: emailing legislators via leg.wa.gov, attending hearings, or pledging via GoFundMe matches. Tacoma's Equity Tree Fund offers interim support.
City Environment Director Sofia Alvarez urged to MyNorthwest’s Ki Ji, "Plant now—trees transcend budgets."