Mosquito Money: Busy Season will Stretch Budget

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Story Published: Jul 2, 2009 at 6:54 PM PST

By Molly Kelleher

WEST RICHLAND - A busy mosquito season is bad for your health and also bad for the budget.

Just how busy is it? The numbers prove the point. This time last year we didn't have one positive case of West Nile virus. Right now, the Benton County Mosquito District has 31. And that means more of your money will be spent.

In the battle against the bugs, Benton County Mosquito Control Board finds West Nile. Mosquitoes are trapped from Grandview, Mabton, Prosser and the Tri-Cities.

A small sample tube is filled with 50 mosquitoes. They then get crushed up and then spun around in a centrifuge until all that's left is the bug juice. That's where the virus hides and the machines find it.

The equipment doesn't come cheap, these testing machines set the district back $3,000.

But it's a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of this year's more aggressive attack.

Unlike last year, we're taking to the skies to kill the mosquitoes. Action News asked the district for the price tag.

For 70,000 acres sprayed so far, it's a $1.71 per acre for the pilot, plane and chemicals. That's nearly $120,000.

"I feel like we have been aggressive because it is here and it's going to be a problem," said district manager Angela Balint.

The district gets money from your property taxes. You pay about $13 for a $100,000 home.

Last year the district came in under budget, this year it won't. But it will force them to use an emergency fund.

The district set aside $600,000 just in case we have a season like this.
It's your money, but it's also your health.

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