In response to concerns raised by community members, Wichita City Manager Robert Layton says the city’s 2026-27 Forestry Division budget will contain money for tree planting. Below is the email Layton sent to one member of the pro-planting group ICT Trees:
“Thank you for the email. There is some misinformation circulating about the 2026 and 2027 tree planting budget that should be addressed. Although preliminary budget discussions included an elimination of tree planting for those two years, the City Council asked for a reconsideration of that action. As a result of that feedback, my recommended budget will restore the tree planting funding for both years.
I hope that this will address your concerns. I would appreciate your help in sharing the message.”
Another member of that group told The Active Age that the city has access to non-potable groundwater so maintaining young trees should not affect the city’s supply of drinking water.
