Mosquito District Serving Pasadena Says It Earned Financial Oversight Accreditation

The public agency responsible for mosquito control in Pasadena and Altadena says it has earned the Special District Leadership Foundation’s “District of Distinction” accreditation following a review of three years of financial audits and district operations.

The West Covina-based San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District announced the recognition in a press release posted Oct. 16. The foundation’s accreditation program assesses financial practices, governance training and public transparency at California special districts. The recognition is valid for three years.

The district’s service area includes 26 cities and portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County. Pasadena joined the district in 2018, and Altadena was added in 2002, according to the agency’s official history.

The district conducts year-round mosquito surveillance, control treatments, inspections of standing water and community education aimed at preventing mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus and dengue.

“Protecting public health comes with a responsibility to the communities we serve and the taxpayers who fund our work,” District Manager Jason Farned said in the district’s announcement.

“We take pride in operating with transparency and ensuring public dollars are managed responsibly and used effectively,” Farned added.

To qualify for accreditation, districts must submit financial audits and supporting documentation demonstrating sound fiscal practices. Trustees and executive staff also must meet governance, ethics and harassment-prevention training requirements.

The foundation’s standards include public access to board meeting schedules, agendas, budgets, financial audits and compensation disclosures.

The district says property taxes and benefit assessments provide most of its funding. Its 27-member Board of Trustees includes Pasadena representative Rachel Janbek, who began her current term in January.

“SDLF provides an independent audit review of the last three years of the district’s operations to ensure prudent fiscal practices,” foundation Chief Executive Officer Neil McCormick said, according to the district’s release.

The district said the review involved volunteer professionals from the special-district community, including controllers, finance directors and certified general managers.

The accreditation comes amid continued mosquito monitoring in the region. Sierra Madre officials reported Oct. 14 that the district had confirmed the city’s first mosquito sample testing positive for West Nile virus this year.

Residents can review the district’s governance records, financial information and mosquito control services at SGVmosquito.org.