The District was created by the Flagler County Board of Commissioners in July 1952, following a special election in which 128 voters cast ballots in favor of creation and 11 opposed.
Public Purpose Statement
The mission of the East Flagler Mosquito Control District is the suppression of those mosquito species that may cause illness of significant discomfort, within a specific control area and with minimal environmental impact.
The District’s initial control efforts were insecticide “fogs” consisting of a mixture of an insecticide and fuel oil. Fogs provided temporary relief from the overwhelming salt marsh mosquito populations that plagued coastal residents. As the District grew, emphasis turned to the salt marsh breeding sites. A dragline was purchased, and drainage efforts were directed at breaking the salt marsh mosquitoes’ life cycle by draining its nursery areas. Hundreds of acres were drained through the early sixties, when widespread acceptance of the wetlands as a valued resource resulted in environmental regulations restricting ditching activities.
Today, the District has grown to service more than 85,000 residents. Its control methods have been refined. Specific mosquito species are now targeted rather than mosquitoes in general. Wetland mosquito projects are more sophisticated, more specific, and receive significant review from regulatory agencies. Control products are short lived, easily degraded; a few are mosquito specific. Only occasionally now do nuisance mosquitoes cause discomfort to the point that outdoor activities are curtailed.
Florida Statute (F.S.) 388.221 allows the District to raise revenue through ad valorem -property taxes.
The current rate for Fiscal Year (FY) 23-24 is 0.3250 mills. If you own a home located in the District with an assessed value of $250,000, after the homestead exemption your tax bill is:
$250,000 – $50,000(exemption)/1,000 x 0.3250(millage rate) = $65.00 for the year.