Letter: Everyone should pay

Letter: Everyone should pay

Ginny Curry
St. Augustine Beach
Publication Date: 11/02/02

Editor: In October 2001, three out of the five Mosquito Control Board members voted to increase the budget 40 percent to $5 million in a meeting attended primarily by Mosquito Control staff and a few residents of the southwest area requesting coverage. Spraying was begun for residents not paying for the service but paid for by the state. At that time, Commissioner Mary Willis felt the proposed millage increase was unnecessary because the district's programs are well-funded. The voters must have agreed with Ms. Willis as she was re-elected this fall in the primary.

During this past summer, despite this enormous budget increase, the mosquito problem has been intolerable. In the 16th Street, Mickler Boulevard, Ocean Walk, Ocean Woods area, we were sprayed one time each in June, July and August and not at all in September! If there aren't enough resources to effectively do the job in the areas where taxpayers are already paying, I don't believe expansion is an option.

The recent article in The Record quoted the tax collector as saying the tax increase for the southwest residents would appear on their 2003 tax bills. Mosquito Control Director Betts has said his $5 million budget will donate $55,000 and the state (that's us!) will kick in $150,000 till those residents begin paying. In October 2001, when the residents of the southwest were asking for coverage, was a Special Taxing Unit an option?

Is there oversight of the Mosquito Control Board? By whom? It has always carried an enormous surplus. Why is there no dissemination of information of how often each area is sprayed? We don't mind paying, but all should pay for services received.




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