Gilroy
– The deadline for property owners to submit their ballots in
the vote to levy a parcel tax to fund the county’s vector control
district is Tuesday.
Currently, property owners pay $5.08 a year to fund the
district, which fights mosquitos and other disease-carrying
pests.
Gilroy – The deadline for property owners to submit their ballots in the vote to levy a parcel tax to fund the county’s vector control district is Tuesday.
Currently, property owners pay $5.08 a year to fund the district, which fights mosquitos and other disease-carrying pests. If the measure passes, property owners will be assessed an additional $8.36 annually, adding $4 million a year to the $2.7 million the district currently receives. The district’s budget is $3.3 million.
Kriss Costa, community resource specialist for the district, has said the money is necessary to fight West NIle Virus. Wednesday, vector control found the virus in a crow in San Jose, the ninth case of the mosquito-borne, potentially fatal illness to be found in the county this year. Last year, the first case was not identified until June 20.
Costa said Wednesday that she was a little surprised that the unusually wet spring hasn’t led to more cases.
“It’s going to happen any day, we’re just wondering when,” Costa said.
Vector control is also expecting to see cases in horses, another sign that people are at risk. County veterinarians report that they’re performing more horse vaccinations than they did last year.
“The people who had it done last year are coming back, and we’re seeing more on top of that,” said Mary Seals, office manager of Tri-County Veterinary hospital in Gilroy.
Seals said her office has administered about 1,200 vaccinations since Jan. 1. There is not a vaccine for humans, who contract the virus from infected mosquitos.
Only property owners may vote in the election. The measure needs 50 percent plus one vote to pass and formal approval by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. The supervisors will announce their decision in August.
Ballots are due before the end of a public hearing scheduled for 2pm, June 21, at the board chambers, 70 W. Hedding St., San Jose. For a replacement ballot, or more information, call 800-273-5167.
