Last modified: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 1:42 PM PST Vector control board weighs options By Larry Meyer Argus Observer ONTARIO - The Malheur County Vector Control Board will ask voters to approve a tax levy to raise money for operations of a vector control district during the May primary election. The board will ask voters to approve or disapprove the same levy that was defeated in a special election last year. That levy failed because of a lack of voter participation. The main mission of the vector control district will be to control mosquitoes which can carry the West Nile virus. There were more than 50 conformed human West Nile virus cases in Malheur County in 2006 and 27 cases in 2007. Voters will be asked to approve a levy of 20 cents per $1,000 of value for five years, which may cause property taxes to increase more than 3 percent, according ballot questions approved Thursday during a vector control district board meeting. Boardmembers estimated the proposed levy will generate more than $280,000 each year during the five-year span, beginning in the 2008 to 2009 fiscal year. According to the proposed ballot summary statement, the funds would allow the district to hire an employee or services of a contractor, purchase mosquito surveillance and detection equipment, a vehicle, plus chemical and office supplies, provide treatment of mosquitoes on approximately 165,000 acres along irrigated acres and rivers, and pay for an education and outreach program about black flies and gopher control. However, the tax levy would not provide money to combat black flies and gophers. Various irrigation district boards are being asked to approve a bounty system to control gophers, Jerry Erstrom, coordinator for vector control district board said. He said that approach was proving to be a success for one of the districts.