Mosquito abatement vote set

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AMERICAN FALLS -- Voters will decide Tuesday whether Power County will enact a mosquito abatement district -- a new taxing district to finance the county's efforts to control mosquitoes and check for the spread of West Nile virus.

The county's two-year emergency abatement district will expire at the end of this year, and if voters do not approve the levy, mosquito abatement in Power County will cease.

Power County Commissioner Ken Estep said that he and fellow commissioners  Vicki Meadows and Ron Funk are hopeful voters will approve the establishment of a permanent district.

Estep said some county residents may have been confused by a letter commissioners sent out about the proposed district.

"We sent out a letter that was required by law to tell people that we were creating a taxing district," he said. "What we did was we included the maximum tax levy allowed by law, even though we weren't going to go for that much. Everybody naturally thought, 'Well geez, they're gonna go for everything,' and so we've been putting out that fire ever since."

The maximum levy amount allowed by law is $100 for property with a taxable value of $100,000, or one-tenth of one percent. Estep said that the levy, which can be adjusted according to funding needs, will cost about $80 for property with a taxable value of $100,000 in 2009. This amount will enable the county to recoup general fund money expended in the last two years. Estep said the cost for treatment in 2007 and 2008 totaled $328,828.

"After that, we think we can run it for about $36 per $100,000," Estep said.

Part of the program's funding has and will continue to come from the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, a federal mechanism that helps offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable federal lands within their boundaries. Use of these funds will decrease the abatement district's levy.

Estep said the emergency abatement district was enacted after the state was hard hit in 2006. Neighboring Bingham County had nine West Nile-related deaths, and the commissioners felt the danger necessitated creation of the district in 2007.

Idaho had 132 cases of West Nile in 2007, including one death. In 2008, there were 39 cases, including one death. Estep said it can't be proven whether the emergency abatement program brought about the reduction in West Nile infections, but he thinks the program likely helped.

Estep emphasized that the abatement district funds can only be used for mosquito abatement.

The county contracted with a Blackfoot-based business, Vector Disease Control Inc., to monitor the mosquito populations, apply larvacide and spray for mosquitoes. Estep said the county has been pleased with the services provided by Vector, which also does abatement programs in Bingham and Caribou counties.

"We have had discussions about engaging in a cooperative effort with Bingham, Bannock and Caribou counties, as well as Fort Hall Reservation in the future as a more cost effective means to combat mosquitoes," Estep said.

According to Tim Bennett, the regional director for Vector, mosquito pools in Power County tested positive for West Nile Virus in both 2007 and 2008. There were no reported human cases of West Nile in Power County in either year.

Voters will also be asked to decide whether permanent abatement districts should be implemented in Bannock and Caribou counties on Nov. 4.

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