STOCKTON — The San Joaquin County Mosquito & Vector Control District’s (District) Board of Trustees unanimously agreed not to raise tax rates for the 2026-2027 fiscal year budget.

The assessment budget includes mosquito and vector surveillance, control and abatement, monitoring and testing for vector-borne diseases, rearing and distribution of mosquitofish, as well as public outreach and education.

“In a concerted effort to help ease the current burden caused by rising costs and inflation upon our County’s residents, the District’s Board of Trustees has decided not to raise the benefit assessment rates for the upcoming fiscal year,” noted District General Manager Omar Khweiss. With over 254,000 single family equivalent units within the County, the cost savings realized by County taxpayers — based on maximum authorized assessment rate versus current benefit assessment rate — is $606,821.

Thes charge appears on property tax bills as SJC MOSQ & VCTR CNTRL.

The latest numbers from the Consumer Price Index show prices for things the district uses every day have gone up as much as 32%.

Despite this statistic, the San Joaquin County Mosquito & Vector Control District has identified innovative efficiencies and cost-saving measures to save taxpayers well over half a million dollars.

“Although we are experiencing a spike in the costs of invaluable tools and instruments that supplement these services, we are confident in our due diligence to carry out these tasks sufficiently under the current total benefit assessment,” Khweiss said.

“Furthermore, if necessary, the District would utilize our Contingencies and General Reserve funds, to cover any additional costs over and above the benefit assessment, in case of such an emergency.”

Khweiss said the district anticipates that the need to increase the benefit assessment for each special service level zone will be inevitable in the very near future but are optimistic they can continue to operate this upcoming fiscal year at no additional charge to residents.

To learn more about mosquito and vector control activities in San Joaquin County, go to the District’s website at www.sjmosquito.org. Follow the district on Facebook @sjmosquitoandvector for more tips and information.

To request District service, visit www.sjmosquito.org or call (209) 982-4675