PLANTING a single tree costs Liverpool taxpayers £4,000.

Figures reveal the final expense is the equivalent of four families’ entire annual council tax bills.

City officials say the cost, which includes the price of “special tree soil”, ensures maintenance costs will be saved in the long run.

But opposition councillors say they are baffled at the figure at a time when councils are increasingly having to tighten their belts because of reduced government funding.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance also condemned the £4,000 cost – compared with an annual band A council tax bill of £964.25 – as “ridiculous”.

The figures emerged as Liverpool council started consulting 22,000 people about how their tax payments should be spent.

A council spokesman said it was important to get tree-planting right first time.

He said: “We have learned from experience that unless you put up a lot of money, it will cost you more in the long-term.

“The trees die, or become pot-bound, or are vandalised, or they spread out and people trip over the roots and we have to pay compensation.