SUBJECT
NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING:
Title
PUBLIC HEARING AND CONFIRMATION OF LEVIES FOR MOSQUITO, VECTOR, AND DISEASE CONTROL BENEFIT ASSESSMENT, AND MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AND VECTOR CONTROL SERVICE CHARGE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 AND RELATED CEQA EXEMPTION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) Vector Control Program (VCP) protects residents and visitors from health risks associated with vectors, such as mosquitoes, rodents, and ticks that can transmit diseases including West Nile virus, Zika, dengue, plague, hantavirus, Lyme disease, and tularemia. VCP conducts mosquito abatement throughout the San Diego region benefit assessment area, performs surveillance and testing of vectors that can cause human disease, and educates members of the public on actions to prevent vectors, protect themselves from vectors, and report vector breeding sources. Each year, DEHQ has a goal to ensure the incidence of locally acquired West Nile virus remains below one case per 100,000 persons, which was achieved in 2024. In 2024, VCP dedicated significant staff and resources to responding to the first-ever local transmissions of dengue in San Diego County, highlighting the urgency of addressing certain vector-borne diseases to help prevent the spread of illness.
The services performed by VCP are supported by the Mosquito, Vector, and Disease Control Benefit Assessment and the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control Service Charge. According to California Proposition 218, approved by California voters in 1996, property owners may approve a benefit assessment through a mail ballot measure and, in subsequent years, the governing body may continue or adjust the levy on properties within the limitations set by the measure. The benefit assessment rate is evaluated annually and must be approved by the Board of Supervisors (Board). On June 26, 2024 (9), the Board approved the continuation of the Mosquito, Vector, and Disease Control Benefit Assessment for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25.
To continue to meet these program objectives and maintain levels of service expected by stakeholders and customers, DEHQ has determined that the Mosquito, Vector, and Disease Control Benefit Assessment rate must increase in FY 2025-26. The proposed single-family equivalent dwelling rate for the next fiscal year is $12.36, which is a $1.60 increase over the current rate of $10.76. The proposed amount is also under the maximum authorized rate of $14.82. Each year, DEHQ works to contain costs of the VCP through innovation, efficiencies, and streamlining so that costs can be kept as low as possible for service recipients and savings can be applied to enhancing mosquito control approaches and laboratory techniques. Approximately 71% of VCP's costs are fixed, such as salary and benefits, retirement, enterprise-wide services and facilities, while 29% of the program’s costs, such as services and supplies, are determined by VCP based on operational needs. The proposed benefit assessment rate reflects known costs as accurately as possible to continue to protect public health, deliver programs and services to customers and communities, make data-driven decisions, and expand community outreach and engagement.
The proposed FY 2025-26 rate is necessary to address changes in costs, such as increased costs for salaries and benefits, and higher fees related to facilities, equipment, and supplies. Salary and benefit costs are based on standard assumptions made by the County for planning purposes associated with anticipated salary and benefit increases; they do not fully address cost increases based on negotiated labor agreements due to the timing of the fee package and the labor negotiations. Actual increased costs during FY 2025-26 due to approved labor negotiations will be reflected in future benefit assessment rates. The proposed rate would also support a necessary increase in services to prevent the spread of new and emerging vectors and vector-borne diseases like dengue, which surged globally in 2024, with the County’s first three cases of dengue being transmitted locally by mosquitoes. Each of these cases required a prompt response involving dozens of mosquito inspections and comprehensive, multi-day mosquito control to prevent the spread of the disease. To help protect public health and serve the community, VCP performed these time and resource-intense responses.
DEHQ continues to apply about $405,000 in ongoing savings from cost containment measures to customers. Money saved through staff-led cost-cutting innovations will offset the proposed increase next fiscal year by 3.4%. DEHQ also uses the Vector Control District Trust Fund to offset the increasing costs and help ease future year rate increases for customers. The Vector trust fund consists of prior years’ operation savings and provides contingency funds to support increased demands on program services and responses. After evaluating contingency fund needs and forecasted operational costs, DEHQ will apply approximately $1.7 million from the Vector Control District Trust Fund balance and its interest for the upcoming fiscal year.
The Board is also being asked to approve an annual resolution adopting service charges and confirming reports regarding levies for Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control Service Charges, which was adopted by the Board in 1989. In 1996, Proposition 218 froze the service charge at the rates of $3.00 (Coastal Subregion), $2.28 (Inland Suburban Subregion), and $2.28 (Inland Rural Subregion), so these rates will remain unchanged for FY 2025-26.
This is a request to adopt a resolution to approve the Engineer’s Report, confirm the assessment diagram and assessment, and order the levy of assessments for the updated Mosquito, Vector, and Disease Control Benefit Assessment for FY 2025-26. This is also a request to adopt the resolution necessary to place the unchanged Service Charge on the tax roll for FY 2025-26.
If this item is not approved by the Board and the assessment and service charge are not placed on the tax roll for FY 2025-26, DEHQ would need to completely deplete all of the available Vector Control District Trust Fund balance of $6.8 Million and an additional $9.2 million in one-time alternative County funding would need to be allocated to provide for the $16.0 million total to maintain the current levels of service. If the benefit assessment and service charge are not approved and one-time alternative County funding is not identified, then VCP would not be able to maintain effective service levels in reducing the risk to public health from vector-borne diseases, increasing the possibility for local transmission of mosquito-borne or other vector-borne diseases.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find in accordance with Section 21080(b)(8) of the Public Resources Code and Section 15273 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines that this action is exempt from CEQA, because it modifies and approves a charge to meet the operating expenses and necessary financial reserves for an existing program, specifically the County Vector Control Program as described herein and in the Engineer’s Report.
2. Adopt a Resolution entitled: RESOLUTION OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVING ENGINEER'S REPORT, CONFIRMING ASSESSMENT DIAGRAM AND ASSESSMENT, AND ORDERING THE CONTINUATION OF ASSESSMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 FOR THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY VECTOR CONTROL PROGRAM’S MOSQUITO, VECTOR AND DISEASE CONTROL ASSESSMENT.
3. Adopt a Resolution entitled: RESOLUTION OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EXERCISING THE POWERS OF THE MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AND VECTOR SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL DISTRICT ADOPTING SERVICE CHARGES AND CONFIRMING REPORTS REGARDING LEVIES TO BE COLLECTED ON THE TAX ROLL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-26.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) anticipates that the confirmation of levies for Mosquito, Vector, and Disease Control Benefit Assessment and Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control Service Charge for Fiscal Year 2025-26 to result in continued protection of public health from the risks of vector borne diseases throughout the San Diego region. Available data from the Engineer’s Report and DEHQ Vector Control Program surveillance and control activities indicate the program is effective in reducing the transmission of vector borne diseases. DEHQ proposes to continue the implementation of an integrated vector management strategy, which incorporates the most effective ways to reduce mosquitoes and protect public health with the least negative impact to the environment. This approach also empowers the public to take preventive measures to protect themselves, their family, and their community through educational community engagement and outreach, which includes multi-lingual media campaigns with a focus on underserved communities.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed actions contribute to the County of San Diego's (County) Sustainability Goals: protect health and wellbeing; protect ecosystems habitats and biodiversity; and provide just and equitable access to County services. The proposed actions contribute to the County Sustainability Goal No.4 to protect health and wellbeing of the residents and visitors of the entire region, including underserved communities, and benefits individuals as well as the community at large. Implementation of an integrated vector management approach to mosquito and vector control services contributes to the County Sustainability Goal No. 6 to protect public health from diseases transmitted by vectors, and protects the ecosystems, habitat, and biodiversity of the region. The proposed actions also contribute to the County’s Sustainability Goal No.1 to provide just and equitable access to County services by involving stakeholders in a community needs assessment and using available resources to improve access to services and positive outcomes.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for these recommendations are included in the Fiscal Year FY 2025-26 CAO Recommended Operational Plan for DEHQ. If approved, the proposed actions will result in costs and revenue of $16.0 million. The funding sources are the Mosquito, Vector and Disease Control Benefit Assessment ($11.8 million), Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control Service Charge ($2.5 million), available Vector Control District Trust Fund fund balance ($1.6 million), and income from interest and other service contracts ($0.1 million). Subsequent years’ assessments will be based on the Vector Control Program budget, approved annually by the Board of Supervisors (Board), and included in future years Operational Plans. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
Mosquitoes and other vectors hinder, annoy, and harm residents, businesses, and visitors. A vector-borne disease outbreak and other related public health risks would have a negative effect on agriculture, business, tourism, and residential activities in the region.
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
The County of San Diego Environmental Health and Quality Advisory Board voted unanimously during their meeting on May 14, 2025 to support the proposed benefit assessment rate and continuance of the service charge that allow for continued surveillance and response to vector-borne diseases, control of the vectors that spread those diseases, and outreach education to engage the community to partner in eliminating the public health risks from vectors, with a focus on underserved communities.
BACKGROUND
The County of San Diego (County) has been protecting public health from disease-carrying vectors for over 40 years, historically as part of the former County Department of Public Health. Since July 1, 1989, the County Vector Control Program (VCP) within the Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) has provided region-wide vector prevention and control services to the entire San Diego region under the powers of a Vector Control District as adopted by the County Board of Supervisors (Board) on May 23, 1989. The funding for services performed by VCP is generated through the Mosquito, Vector, and Disease Control Benefit Assessment, and the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control Service Charge.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mosquitoes are the deadliest animals in the world. Their ability to rapidly breed in standing water and spread disease causes millions of deaths every year. In 2024, the VCP dedicated significant staff and resources to responding to the first-ever local transmissions of dengue in San Diego County, highlighting the urgency of addressing vector-borne diseases. In response to a sharp increase in cases, DEHQ investigated over 86 instances of vector-borne diseases in 2024, compared to just 17 in 2023. Additionally, in 2024, the County experienced its first three human cases of dengue being transmitted locally by mosquitoes. Each of these cases required a prompt response involving dozens of mosquito inspections and multi-day comprehensive mosquito control, resulting in over 800 overtime staff hours to prevent further local spread of dengue. The following is a summary of various VCP program activities:
• Complaint and Service Responses: Includes inspections for mosquito breeding sources, excessive mosquito activity, dead bird recovery, neglected pools and spas that may allow for breeding mosquitoes, rat harborage or exclusion, and vector-borne disease investigations. In 2024, VCP provided around 4,000 vector-related complaint and service responses for residents throughout the San Diego region, which included a 524% increase in disease investigations over the prior year, largely due to an influx of travel-related dengue cases.
• Inspecting and Treating Known Mosquito Breeding Sources: There are approximately 1,600 known mosquito breeding sources throughout the region that VCP staff regularly inspects and treats with larvicide, if needed, throughout the year. These locations are known to be sources of mosquito breeding adjacent to human populations, and if during the inspection there is mosquito breeding observed, VCP staff will apply a larvicide in a variety of ways, including by hand and by helicopter, to water bodies to reduce the population of mosquito larvae before they become biting adults.
• Mosquito-Transmissible Disease Response: From October 2014 through 2024, VCP investigated over 600 suspect, probable, or confirmed travel-related and locally acquired cases of mosquito-borne illness referred from County Public Health Services (PHS), including 86 cases in 2024 alone, more than four times the number of dengue cases investigated in 2023. In 2024, VCP conducted two multiday, intensive mosquito abatement operations to prevent the spread of dengue from the first three locally acquired human cases in the County. These operations included field investigations and follow-up surveillance and testing to monitor the area for additional cases. VCP used bilingual staff to explain the response protocol, answer questions, and address any concerns from affected residents before and during the adult mosquito treatments.
• Inspecting and Treating Tidal Areas: Staff inspect and treat with larvicide that is safe for tidal wildlife, when necessary, tidal lagoons impacted by high tides within 48 hours of the end of the tidal event. These inspections and treatments occur throughout the mosquito breeding season and span the coastline from the Tijuana Estuary to Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad and Oceanside. This helps reduce mosquito breeding in lagoons and surrounding areas that could hold water from the tidal event. For king tides, VCP may apply larvicides from the ground and/or a helicopter to the tidal areas holding water and breeding mosquitoes.
• Mosquito Monitoring: Historically, VCP mosquito monitoring focused on larger bodies of water, including creeks, rivers, lagoons, and pools, which are the preferred breeding locations of native mosquitoes that can transmit West Nile virus. However, the establishment of invasive Aedes mosquitoes locally necessitated VCP to develop additional strategies to protect the public because invasive Aedes are capable of transmitting diseases like Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and dengue. VCP has had to increase services and responses to protect the public, including responding to 79 cases of travel-associated or locally acquired dengue to prevent their spread in the County, an increase of over 450% over the prior year. These investigations are initiated within one business day after receiving case information from PHS.
• Laboratory Testing: With increased monitoring and trapping of native and invasive mosquito species and the development of additional tests to detect a wide range of vector-borne pathogens, the number of specimens tested by the VCP disease and diagnostic lab increased over 20% from the prior year. The lab tests mosquitoes, ticks, dead birds, and rodents for different diseases and can produce same-day results, when necessary. This helps in operational decisions and allows for timely treatments and public health messaging.
• Conducting Public Outreach and Engagement: A comprehensive media campaign is conducted each year to educate the public on how to prevent and protect themselves from West Nile virus and invasive Aedes mosquitoes. DEHQ also partners with other County departments to extend educational vector information to their customers. The 2024 media campaign was conducted in nine threshold languages including English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Filipino, Korean, Somali, and Vietnamese, and was weighted toward underserved communities throughout the county.
Program Benefit Assessment & Service Charge
On March 23, 2005 (7), the Board initiated mail ballot proceedings for the Mosquito, Vector, and Disease Control Measure in compliance with Proposition 218, and established a Mosquito, Vector, and Disease Control Benefit Assessment. On July 13, 2005 (1), the Board accepted and confirmed the results that voting property owners supported this Assessment by 61.46%. The voter-approved ballot proceedings granted authority for the governing body to levy the assessment for future years and established a maximum assessment rate of $8.55 per single-family equivalent dwelling, which has been increasing each subsequent year by an amount tied to an increase in the San Diego Area Consumer Price Index (CPI) not to exceed 5% per year. The proposed benefit assessment for FY 2025-26 is $12.36 which is under the maximum authorized rate of $14.82.
The Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control Service Charge, established in 1989 by the Board, is assessed on all taxable parcels of land throughout the region. When Proposition 218 was passed in 1996, the service charge was frozen at its current rate and will remain at the current rates of $3.00 (Coastal Subregion), $2.28 (Inland Suburban Subregion), and $2.28 (Inland Rural Subregion), which resulted in decreased response times, minimal service for rat complaints, and less ability to protect public health from vector-borne disease. Current revenue from the service charge is about $2.5 million. Because the service charge had been frozen at these rates, it no longer provided adequate program funding by 2005. A benefit assessment was subsequently introduced in Fiscal Year (FY) 2005-06 for improved vector control services as approved by property owners within the region, which has been continued every year since, along with the service charge.
The Engineer’s Report (Attachment C) defines the proposed benefit assessment by outlining the assessment diagram, program components, costs, and assessment required based on the program size. The benefit assessment would provide funding for mosquito, vector, and disease surveillance and control services for all incorporated and unincorporated areas throughout the region. The benefit can be measured, in part, by the number of people who live on, work at, visit, or otherwise use the property, because the people ultimately determine the value of the benefits by choosing to live, work, and/or recreate in the area.
Proposed Vector Benefit Rate
The single-family equivalent (SFE) assessment rate proposed today for FY 2025-26 is necessary to address cost changes experienced by VCP. Approximately 71% of VCP's costs are fixed, such as salary and benefits, retirement, enterprise-wide services, and facilities, while 29% of the programs’ costs, such as services and supplies, are discretionary, meaning costs are determined by VCP based on operational needs, including equipment and supplies used for mosquito control.
The proposed FY 2025-26 cost changes include increased facility and equipment costs, supply costs, and increased salary and benefit costs. Salary and benefit costs reflect standard assumptions made by the County for planning purposes associated with anticipated salary and benefit increases and do not fully address cost increases based on negotiated labor agreements, due to the timing of the fee package and the labor negotiations. Actual increased costs during FY 2025-26 due to approved labor negotiations will be reflected in future Benefit Assessment rates. The proposed cost increase is also necessary to support program services that benefit quality of life and public health, including routine and response services to help prevent the spread of dengue and other vector-borne diseases. Additionally, in response to the increased service level necessary to address dengue and other emerging issues, in the upcoming fiscal year, the program will also begin a multi-year project to evaluate the long-term viability of its current funding sources.
Each year, VCP staff work to contain costs by developing innovative and efficient solutions to challenges facing the program. In addition to the efforts made in prior years, this fiscal year DEHQ has $77,000 in new operational savings from efficiencies or streamlining measures that were implemented since the last vector benefit assessment. For example, staff researched a more versatile, multi-use backpack-mounted larvicide application device that can be used in a wide range of situations to control mosquito larvae rather than using standard equipment that has more limited uses and would require multiple different equipment purchases to cover mosquito control needs. The use of truck-mounted equipment to treat large waterbodies in more rural areas resulted in significant savings in the cost of the larvicide and flight time by minimizing aerial treatments. The efficiencies that have been applied include combining prior year efforts, along with the efficiencies implemented this year. DEHQ has been able to apply a total of $405,000 in savings from all the cost containment measures to this proposal, reducing costs by 3.4%. In addition to these savings, DEHQ proposes to apply approximately $1.6 million from the Vector Control District Trust Fund fund balance and $0.1 million from interest to reduce the overall benefit assessment rate by 15.5%.
The SFE assessment included in the Engineer’s Report for FY 2025-26 is proposed at the calculated rate of $12.36, which is a $1.60 increase, or 14.9%, since the rate was adjusted to $10.76 in FY 2024-25. Prior to that, the rate was $9.10 in FY 2023-24 and was held constant at $8.37 for four years from FY 2019-20 through FY 2022-23 by strategically using the program’s trust fund, applying savings, and through efforts to maximize efficiencies and streamline operations. Taken over this seven-year period, the proposed rate would equate to an average increase of $0.57 annually. Revenue to be collected from the proposed benefit assessment is approximately $11.8 million for FY 2025-26. A summary of the proposed benefit assessment rates by property type can be found in Attachment D. This attachment also compares proposed rates for FY 2025-26 with FY 2024-25 rates.
Vector Control Program Cost
The proposed cost of the VCP for FY 2025-26 is approximately $16.0 million.
• $10.0 million in salaries and benefits for permanent staff and seasonal positions;
• $4.7 million in services and supplies (including larvicide, aerial applications, and outreach materials);
• $0.6 million in transportation and equipment costs (including auto maintenance, fuel, and other minor equipment); and
• $0.7 million in external support and other costs.
Vector Control Program Revenue
It is proposed that $16.0 million in revenue will be received as follows:
• $11.8 million from the benefit assessment at the proposed SFE rate of $12.36;
• $2.5 million from the Mosquito and Vector Control service charge;
• $1.6 million from available fund balance in the Vector Control District Trust Fund, used as part of a multi-year plan to help offset increases in the assessment; and
• $0.1 million from interest income and contracts to perform work for other departments and districts.
Stakeholder Engagement
DEHQ solicited input on the Vector Benefit assessment from multiple stakeholders through various outreach methods. DEHQ posted virtual presentations in English and Spanish on the DEHQ website, announced their availability on social media, and sent emails to approximately 7,500 stakeholders. Translation of the information into the other County threshold languages was also offered. DEHQ staff contact information was also provided for businesses and members of the public to submit comments, feedback, or ask questions. In addition to the virtual presentations available to any interested party, DEHQ also contacted specific stakeholder groups, such as the Southern California Rental Housing Association, the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, and the San Diego County Farm Bureau regarding the Engineer’s Report, service charge, and proposed assessment rates for FY 2025-26.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
The proposed activity is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines. Per Section 21080(b)(8) of the Public Resources Code and Section 15273(a) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have significant effect on the environment and that it is therefore exempt from CEQA. In addition, this action is exempt from CEQA, because it renews a charge to meet the operating expenses and necessary financial reserves for an existing program, specifically the County Vector Control Program as described herein and in the Engineer’s Report.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Sustainability, Equity and Community Strategic Initiatives in the County of San Diego’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. These actions will align services to available resources to maintain fiscal stability and provide innovative technology to ensure superior service delivery to the public. Today’s requests promote an environment where communities can prosper and residents can enjoy parks, open spaces, clean air and water, and outdoor experiences while making neighborhoods healthy and safe places to live, work, and play. Approval of these requests advances these Strategic Initiatives by funding the continuation of the public health protective efforts of the Vector Control Program.
Respectfully submitted,
Dahvia Lynch
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Note: Due to the size of the attachments, the documents are available online through the Clerk of the Board's website at www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cob/bosa.html. <http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cob/bosa.html>
Attachment A - Resolution of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Approving Engineer’s Report, Confirming Assessment Diagram, and Assessment and Ordering the Continuation of Assessments for Fiscal Year 2025-26 for the San Diego County Vector Control Program’s Mosquito, Vector, and Disease Control Benefit Assessment
Attachment B - Resolution of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Exercising the Powers of the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Surveillance and Control District Adopting Service Charges and Confirming Reports Regarding Levies to be Collected on the Tax Roll for Fiscal Year 20250-26
Attachment C - Engineer’s Report
Attachment D - Summary of the Proposed Benefit Assessment Rates by Property Type
Attachment E - Stakeholder Meetings and Outreach
Attachment F - CEQA Finding