ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Big Noise Over a Small Levy

A taxpayer revolt over a small increase in property tax bills in Orange County demonstrates the need for government agencies to spell out clearly where tax money goes and for taxpayers to realize that someone has to pay for necessary services.

Recently the local Vector Control District notified Orange County property owners that it planned a fee increase to pay for programs to control mosquitoes, rats and other insects and rodents. The $1.10 levy per parcel this year probably would grow to $3.10 next year, or $4.30 at most.

The news prompted an astounding 8,000 written protests in four weeks. People who in many cases pay several thousand dollars in annual property taxes were angered at paying 16 cents more per month. The district and the complainers agree that the firestorm shows the depth of the dislike of tax increases, no matter how small.

The agency has a good case for the increase, but its notice unfortunately contained far too much government jargon and too little detail on its activities. It will get a chance to make a better case, without the jargon, at a Sept. 1 public hearing.

The district says it handled 10,000 calls about rats last year and 2,000 concerning mosquitoes. Its anti-mosquito programs, and those of the mosquito control districts in Los Angeles County, fight an insect population that would be out of control otherwise. In addition, the district plans new programs to monitor the possible arrival of so-called killer bees, and will be on the lookout for any indications of a local outbreak of the hantavirus blamed for the recent deaths of 16 people in the Southwest. That virus appears to have been spread by rodents.

The notice does explain why the fee is going up. When the state Legislature shifted property taxes from things like libraries and mosquito abatement to education this year, the counties lost billions of dollars. The money had to come from somewhere.

Taxpayers are right to question how their money is spent, especially in tough times. But they also have to understand that all bills come due.