Brookhaven Adds More Funds To Help Tree Canopy

From the City of Brookhaven:

The pandemic prevented use of approximately $25,000 budgeted travel expenses for City officials to attend meetings and conferences throughout this year. This money, not used due to the pandemic, would normally be recycled into next year’s General Fund budget. However, at the Dec. 8 regular Council meeting, District 4 Councilman Joe Gebbia had a unique suggestion that was unanimously approved: Move the budgeted dollars to the City’s tree canopy fund, known formally as the Brookhaven Tree Preservation Fiduciary Account.

The vote to approve the move will help in future efforts for the preservation of the City’s tree canopy. Examples of how this fund is used include projects such as the recent tree planting at Langford Park and movement of trees earlier this year from a Children’s Health Care of Atlanta construction site to designated spots along the Peachtree Creek Greenway. Going forward, monies will be used to help maintain trees in the City’s nursery near Lynwood Park to meet future canopy restoration needs.

In making the proposal, Gebbia noted that refocusing the travel dollars “speaks to our ongoing commitment to our City, our commitment to the ecology, our commitment to our tree canopy and our commitment to being socially responsible.”

This press release was produced by the City of Brookhaven. The views expressed here are the author’s own.