Richmond County health officials ask Augusta leaders for $290,000 boost to mosquito program, seek truck purchase

Lee A. Donahue, district health director for the Georgia Department of Public Health’s East Central Health District, asked the Public Services Committee on March 11 for additional funding to expand Richmond County’s mosquito control program after a large post‑storm increase in mosquito numbers.

Donahue told commissioners the county-run program has been operating at “max capacity for over 10 years” and that Hurricane Helene produced a “massive bloom” of mosquitoes last year that overwhelmed the existing fleet and workforce. She said the health district is requesting roughly $290,000 in additional one‑time and recurring funds, including about $48,000 to purchase a new sprayer truck to reduce long wait times for property sprays.

The request would increase the mosquito program’s annual…