County OKs Fire Ant Funds
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The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to fund efforts through Feb. 18 to eradicate red imported fire ants, but after that, county vector officials will have to find other funding to continue the program.
In September, the state Department of Food and Agriculture said it would stop funding efforts to eradicate the pest, which had become a problem in several Southern California counties.
In the interim, Orange County has picked up the funding gap, but will cut off payments in February.
It is hoped that by that time, the Orange County Vector Control District will have tapped financial help from cities, Supervisor Bill Campbell said.
Vector officials hope to obtain enough local funding to continue the program through the end of the fiscal year -- June 30 -- after which the state might again be able to pick up the costs. Efforts to eradicate the fire ant cost about $150,000 per month in Orange County.
The fire ants are known for fierce stings that leave victims with painful, itchy welts.
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