A Florida city’s $427,000 tree-removal bill is drawing new scrutiny after officials said the work followed a serious falling-tree incident involving city-owned property.
Winter Springs Commissioner Mark Caruso raised concerns about the spending after reviewing months of invoices for tree maintenance and removal. According to ClickOrlando, the city spent $427,000 on the work.
City Manager Kevin Sweet said the spending came after an April 2025 incident in which a driver was seriously injured when a tree on city-owned property fell onto his vehicle.
Sweet said the city has since worked with an arborist to identify and remove trees that may pose a risk to life or property.
Dead, diseased, or unstable trees near roads, sidewalks, homes, and parked cars can create safety and liability problems, while large removal bills can raise questions about oversight, timing, and whether new trees will replace what was cut down.
The City Says Tree Safety Drove the Spending
Sweet showed dash-camera video from the April 2025 incident during Monday’s meeting and said the city could not ignore hazardous trees after Winter Springs was found liable for damages.
FOX 35 reported that a city manager memo said Winter Springs began identifying hazardous trees in 2025 after the liability incident. The same report said the city’s arborist evaluated trees that posed risks to people or property, and that a review found procurement procedures were followed and the money came from approved sources.
One Commissioner Wants More Transparency
Caruso first highlighted the spending during a June 8 meeting and questioned how seven months of tree-removal invoices reached $427,000.
At Monday’s meeting, he said the answers still had not satisfied his concerns. Mayor Kevin McCann said there was no misuse of funds and that the spending was part of a budget approved in 2024.
McCann also criticized how the concerns were raised, while Caruso said unanswered questions created a red flag.
The Next Debate May Be About Replanting
Caruso suggested a policy requiring the city to replant trees when trees are removed from city property.
Winter Springs’ arbor rules already require permits for many tree removals and replacement trees in certain cases. The city says tree removal of 4 inches DBH or larger generally requires a permit and fee unless the tree is dead, diseased, or poses a clear and obvious safety hazard to structures or people.
The city’s financial documents describe the Arbor Fund as money from arbor permit revenues committed to new plantings and maintenance of trees and shrubs in Winter Springs.
ClickOrlando reported that the tree-spending discussion is expected to continue as the city develops its next budget, with a tentative budget due July 1 and a budget workshop scheduled for July 13.