County approves mosquito assessment levies, authorizes up to $200 million short-term borrowing and refunds County Operations Center debt

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on June 5 approved three finance and public‑health related items: confirmation of levies for the mosquito vector and disease control benefit assessment, authorization to issue up to $200 million in 2025 tax and revenue anticipation notes to cover short‑term cash needs, and approval of documents to prepay and refund certificates of participation related to the County Operations Center financing.

The mosquito assessment item, described on the agenda as a notice of public hearing and confirmation of levies for the mosquito vector and disease control benefit assessment, was approved by the board following public comment. Vice Chair Lawson Riemer presided over the hearing and tenant commissioner Bianca Berry voted with the supervisors. County staff described the item as a routine confirmation of the benefit assessment levies; members of the public raised health and chemical‑exposure concerns. One caller cited the proposed single‑family rate of $12.36 — a $1.60 increase from the prior year — and said roughly 71% of program costs are fixed (salaries, benefits and retirement). Callers also referenced larvicides the county lists on its website, naming products such as “Natural G30” and “Vectomax.”

Public commenters asked the board to consider alternatives to chemical spraying. Consuelo, a caller during the public hearing, said: "There are countless natural ways to deter mosquitoes... A simple online search will give you a better answer than the toxic solutions you continue to use." Another participant questioned the program's transparency and urged greater outreach.

The board voted to approve the assessment levies; the clerk recorded the motion as passing with all supervisors and tenant commissioners present voting in the affirmative.

Separately, the board authorized the issuance of tax and revenue anticipation notes (TRANs) for 2025 to smooth county cash flow. County staff told the board the TRANs would be sold by competitive bid, with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $200,000,000 and a planning estimate of an annual borrowing cost at about 3.6%. Staff said payments would be due in full in June 2026 and would be set aside incrementally. In debate, a member of the board said they would not support the borrowing approach as a long‑term practice and urged staff to examine in‑house borrowing alternatives and reserve management to avoid repeated outside borrowing. The board nevertheless approved the resolution to proceed with the competitive sale and related documents.

The third finance action authorized the county to deliver and execute financing documents to prepay and refund certificates of participation related to prior financing for the County Operations Center. County staff explained the refunding would produce estimated annual cash‑flow savings of roughly $13,000,000 and total present‑value savings of about $6,600,000. The board approved the refunding authorization; staff said the county’s lease obligations will continue to be secured by a lease of portions of the County Operations Center property with the San Diego County Capital Asset Leasing Corporation ("San Cal").

Public comment across the three items also touched other land‑use and health topics. During the meeting, callers urged rejection of a proposed cannabis program — the Fallbrook Community Planning Group’s chair was quoted as saying the group “endorses alternative 1, the no project alternative.” Public‑health advocates urged the supervisors to weigh youth impacts from expanded marijuana commercialization: Megan Stewart said the county must “consider the full range of all health and safety impacts,” and Becky Rapp asked the board to request a formal presentation from ER and pediatric experts at Rady Children's Hospital.

The board completed additional routine business earlier in the session, including approval of Housing Authority minutes and consent calendar items. The meeting concluded with a brief closed‑session report stating the board met in closed session on June 4 and took no reportable actions.

Votes at a glance: - Mosquito vector and disease control benefit assessment — motion to confirm levies: outcome approved, recorded as passing with supervisors and tenant commissioners present voting aye. - 2025 tax and revenue anticipation notes (TRANs) — authorization to issue up to $200,000,000: outcome approved; staff estimate principal not to exceed $200,000,000 and a planning cost estimate of 3.6% annual borrowing cost, payments due June 2026. - Refunding of County Operations Center certificates of participation — authorization to deliver and execute refunding documents: outcome approved; estimated annual cash‑flow savings ~$13,000,000 and total savings ~$6,600,000.

The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for June 9 at 5 p.m.