SF Mosquito Control Uses Majority Of Budget

SIOUX FALLS, SD - The warm wet weather has created the perfect conditions for mosquitoes this summer. Sioux Falls has had to spray more often than last year just to keep up, and that's costing more money.

The Sioux Falls Health Department is spending a lot of money to fight the swarm of mosquitoes.

"It's a responsible budget; it's a conservative budget. It's one we've built off of years of history with the program," Public Health Manager Sandy Frentz said.

For 2010, Sioux Falls planned to spend $345,000 to control the pests. A quarter of that goes to paying staff, and another 23 percent supports vehicles, fuel and rent on buildings. But more than half the budget is poured directly into battling the bugs.

"About 52 percent of that is the chemical we use to treat out in the environment," Frentz said.

Sioux Falls started spraying for mosquitoes in June, often several times a week. That's draining this year's chemical funds - about $179,000 - faster than last year. 

It's nearly August, and the city has about $20,000 left in the mosquito control budget for chemicals, but the health department says it's still on track.

"We just made a chemical purchase, so we have about eleven percent of our budget left," Frentz said.

Health Department officials will likely use all the money in the budget this year, but that should be enough until the first freeze.

"I would anticipate by the time the season is done, we'll have expended all of our resources. Our goal is getting through the end of the season," Frentz said.

Using all the resources available to keep the buzz at bay.

The health department says that getting rid of standing water around your home means less spraying, which will ease the stress on the mosquito control budget.