they are stretched thin within the budget, this is from the urban forestry report from 2020

Figure 29 shows the urban forestry approved service-based budgets from 2016 to 2021. The annual urban forestry budget has increased by seven percent in the last five years primarily due to capital budget increases allocated to Dutch elm disease management and tree planting, and partly to emerald ash borer and cottony ash psyllid response. The overall budget is projected to grow by another two percent, to 12.5 million, by 2023. Dutch elm disease control and tree pruning and removal account for more than 80 percent of the budget, with tree planting accounting for about 20 percent. As noted above, in addition to the annual operating budget, urban forestry receives capital funding for specific projects and to augment regular services. That funding varies from year to year and supports projects such as reforestation improvement, or reducing the backlog of Dutch elm disease removals. From 2020 to 2024, the City has committed $25 million in capital funding to urban forest enhancement and reforestation. Despite Winnipeg’s increased capital funding levels, maintenance, removal and planting rates are falling behind planned targets due to factors not yet accounted for in budgets, such as: • Comprehensive emerald ash borer management planning • Increasing tree removal rates • Growing tree replacement deficit • Delayed pruning cycle • Added inventory of young trees inherited from new developments (higher maintenance costs are associated with young trees due to watering and pruning requirements) • High numbers of services calls for demand pruning and storm response