Voters approved a 0.75 mill property tax to fund the Mosquito Abatement and Rodent Control District on January 20th, 1979. Shortly thereafter, a Board of Commissioners was appointed and a director was named. The board consisted of: 

• James N. Johnson, City appointee
• James Antoon, Health Unit Representative
• Doctor R.B. Lank, Farmers and Ranchers
• Doctor R. Dayton Steelman, Entomologist

The veterinarian's position was left vacant to be filled at a later date. Doyle Micheal Chambers was named as the district's first director.

Millage Increases

In 1982, the voters of the parish overwhelmingly approved a millage increase to 1.2 mills, for a ten-year period starting in 1984. The tax was renewed in 1992 and again in 2002. Combating West Nile virus, which was introduced into East Baton Rouge Parish in 2002, increased operating costs, so voters approved a 1-mill tax to provide additional funds in November 2006 by a margin of 69%.

Location

The district was housed temporarily in a trailer located on the airport property. In November of 1980, a permanent site was established at 2829 Lt. General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Avenue. It has been expanded twice since 1980. The first expansion, in 1986, provided additional work space for employees and operating equipment. In 1994, the second expansion offered additional employee parking as well as a training/public relations facility. Also, a trailer was placed at the rear of the district grounds to house a Bio-Control Laboratory and Insectary. Additional covered parking for City Parish vehicles and equipment was erected in 2005.