Plans for the planting of 82 trees along in various parts of Austin are on hold this spring due to city budget problems.

The parks and recreation department would have had to order the trees by late February in order to get them here for planting, but the uncertainty of the funding from the state due to the current budget crisis kept those orders from being made. The purchase would have cost between $5,000 and $6,000.

"Right now we're waiting until the legislature concludes in May or June," said Dennis Maschka, the director of the parks and recreation department. "Then we'll know where we are."

Where they are could dictate whether or not any fall planting will be done, Maschka said. If there's money for it, the city could order trees later and have them ready to go in September.

"We'd be getting the trees that are left and they want to get rid of, but the good news is we might get a deal on them," he said.

The negative side of that scenario is that the selection might not be good, he said.

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by email at matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com