Prop 218 Benefit Assessment

Important Dates

• May 26th, 4:30pm: Special Board Meeting at 1737 W Houston Ave, Visalia, CA to approve the mailing of ballots and present the Preliminary Engineers Report.
• June 4th: Ballots are mailed to residents.
• June 7th: Ballots start to be received by residents.
• June 17th, 6:00pm: Zoom Community Meeting. Details here. Video recording imbedded below. 
• July 21st, 4:30pm: Special Board Meeting & Public Hearing at 1737 W Houston Ave, Visalia, CA to close the balloting period and begin tabulation.
• July 22nd-27th: Ballot Tabulation.
• July 28th, 4:30pm: Special Board Meeting at 1737 W Houston Ave, Visalia, CA to announce results.

Watch the Recording of the June 17th Community Meeting below.

Frequently Asked Questions For the Prop 218 Assessment Ballot 

PLEASE WATCH FOR YOUR BALLOT BY MAIL STARTING ON JUNE 7, 2021.
(Ballots were mailed on June 5, 2021)

What is the Delta Mosquito, Vector and Disease Control Assessment Measure?
The Mosquito, Vector and Disease Control Assessment is a mailed ballot measure for property owners that, if approved, will allow the District to provide continued, comprehensive, mosquito and other vector surveillance and control, and vector-borne disease testing and prevention services.

Why did I receive a ballot?
The ballot you received is your opportunity to vote on the continued mosquito, vector and disease control services from the Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District. Please review the notice included with your ballot for more information on this measure.

What is the Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District and what is the role of the Cities or County with this measure?
The Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District is an independently-funded public health service agency, separate from any City or the Counties. Since 1922 the District has been providing mosquito, vector and disease control services within its boundaries. Throughout its history the District has been fiscally responsible and has worked within its limited budget, even when faced with cost increases and the added cost of controlling disease outbreaks from mosquitoes (such as West Nile Virus), and newly invasive Aedes aeqypti species.

Why are additional funds needed now?
From 2010 to 2019 the District received funding from a property-owner approved assessment of approximately $1 million per year which supported comprehensive mosquito and vector control services as well as the development of the District’s laboratory. This assessment expired in 2019 leaving a structural budget shortfall in funding for the portion dedicated to comprehensive mosquito and vector control services.

Will any of this money go to the County or State to be used for other purposes?
No. All money collected by the Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District from this proposed Mosquito, Vector and Disease Control Assessment must be used for local mosquito, vector and disease control within the District.

What types of services will be funded?
• Control mosquito-breeding sources with environmentally sound products wherever mosquito larvae or pupae are found.
• Testing for diseases that can be carried by invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito.
• Respond rapidly to service requests concerning mosquitoes, insects, and other vectors.
• Conduct environmentally safe adult mosquito control when necessary to protect public health.
• Provide community education and outreach on how to prevent and protect residents from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases.
• Provide free mosquito-eating fish to property owners for backyard ponds and other water features.

How would assessment funds be spent? What are the public accountability and fiscal controls?
All the assessment funds raised would be spent on mosquito, vector and disease control in the District. Public accountability and fiscal controls include the following:
• Budget for the services proposed each year will be overseen by the Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District Board of Trustees
• Annual public hearings and public reviews

Is there a public hearing on the assessment? When will results of the ballot proceeding be known?
A public hearing will be held by the Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District Board of Trustees on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, commencing at 4:30 pm, at the District headquarters, located at 1737 W Houston Ave Visalia, California 93291. You are invited to attend the public hearing.

Tabulation of the returned ballots will commence after the close of the public hearing. Ballots will be tabulated by Tulare County Elections.

Results of the tabulation are expected to be announced at a public meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at 4:30 pm at the District headquarters, located at 1737 W Houston Ave Visalia, California 93291. You are invited to attend this meeting.

How can I return my ballot?
You may return your ballot in either of the following ways:
• Mail it to the address shown in the enclosed, postage-paid return envelope so it is received on or before July 21, 2021.
• Deliver it in person to the public hearing which is scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm on Wednesday, June 21, 2021, at the District headquarters, located at 1737 W Houston Ave Visalia, California 93291.

What is the deadline for returning my ballot?
To be counted, ballots must be received before the close of the public testimony portion of the public hearing scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. This deadline applies regardless of whether the ballot is mailed or hand-delivered at the public hearing.

I own several properties. Why did I receive only one ballot?
Ballots can list up to 14 parcel numbers. Property owners that own more than one piece of property with the same mailing address in the District will receive/received one ballot with up to 14 of their properties listed on the ballot as well as the proposed assessment for each property. When you cast your ballot, you are casting for all of your properties listed on the ballot.

How much is this assessment?
The proposed assessment for your property for fiscal year 2021-22 is printed on the Official Ballot included with the notice and information item. The rate for most single family homes is $12.50 per year. Other residential property types would be assessed according to the number of dwelling units and parcel size. Commercial, industrial and agricultural properties would be assessed according to their parcel size and property type. The proposed assessment would raise approximately $1,023,546 for fiscal year 2021-22.

Can the amount of the assessment be adjusted for inflation in future years?
The assessment is subject to an annual adjustment tied to the Western Region’s Pacific Division Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), as of December of each succeeding year (“CPI”), with a maximum annual adjustment not to exceed 3%. Any change in the CPI in excess of 3% shall be cumulatively reserved as the “Unused CPI” and shall be used to increase the maximum authorized assessment rate in years in which the CPI is less than 3%. The maximum authorized assessment rate is equal to the maximum assessment rate in the first fiscal year the assessment was levied adjusted annually by the minimum of 1) 3% or 2) the change in the CPI plus any Unused CPI as described above.

How long will the assessment last?
The assessment, which is initially proposed for the fiscal year 2021-2, may be continued on an annual basis with a majority vote of the Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District Board of Trustees. Before the assessment can be continued in any future year, the District must first prepare a budget and plans for upcoming fiscal year. Then the Board of Trustees must hold a noticed public hearing on continuing the assessment and the budget for the assessment before the assessment can be authorized for the upcoming year.

For additional questions, or questions specific to your ballot and/or property, please contact Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District at (559) 732-8606.