Effects of emerald ash borer on municipal forestry budgets

This study examines the financial impact of emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis Farimaire; Coleoptera: Buprestide) on municipal forestry budgets. Three distinct phases were evident: an initial time period of 0-4-years (little budget change), year 5-8 time period (rapid budget increase), and years 9-12 (rapid budget decrease) after EAB was confirmed in a state. The 5-8 year time period had increased spending as detected through the total forestry budget (p =0.011), total municipal forestry budget (percent forestry budget) as a percentage of the total municipal budget (p <0.001), and per capita spending (p <0.001). A $1.58 per capita increase occurred in annual municipal forestry budgets in states in which EAB was confirmed (EAB+) compared to states without a confirmed EAB case (EAB-). This has a $280.5 (+/- 79.9) million annual impact on municipal budgets. The percent forestry budget increased as the time since EAB was confirmed in a state increased. A mean 0.33% (0.03 SE, n=82) percent forestry budget occurred during the initial 0-4 years after confirmation of EAB. This exponentially increased from 0.47% (0.05 SE, n=43) in year 5 to 1.17% (0.12 SE, n=38) at the peak in year 8, and rapidly declined back to 0.47% (0.05 SE, n=51) in years 10-12 which was a level slightly higher than initial conditions. Federal, state, and local urban forestry managers can use these results to financially plan for the impacts of EAB on municipal forestry budgets. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.