Details of the projected budget needs for Cincinnati’s Bed Bug Inspection Program

Speaking of money, the City of Cincinnati 2009/2010 Biennial Budget Development Memorandum, dated June 2, 2008, is available here (link is PDF).

A section on the “Creation and Expansion of the Bed Bug Inspection Program” reads as follows:

Complaints to the Health Department about bed bug infestations have grown from less than 50 in 2006 to more than 757 in 2007, with approximately 10% of complaints being inspected. Based on City Council resolution 6-2008 passed on January 30, 2008, bed bugs are now considered vermin. The Health Department has been directed by Council to inspect the majority of complaints, in addition to continuing extensive educational outreach. Based on the experience with bed bugs in other major cities, the number of complaints may double in the coming year, despite the department’s best efforts.

The Bed Bug Inspection Program will increase personnel and non-personnel costs in the budget. The Joint Bed Bug Task Force has provided three estimates for 2008 based on complaints. The first assumes the same level of complaints as in 2007. The second doubles the number of complaints and the third quadruples the complaints. Additional funding required for the program, (including fringe benefits for inspectors, educational outreach materials and protective apparel for inspectors) would be approximately $290,200 per year assuming the same level of complaints. If the number of complaints double, the required funding increases to $416,150 per year. This is the level of funding recommended by the Health Department. The quadrupled level of complaints is $660,280. Estimates do not include database tracking or Health Foundation survey costs. Estimates do include $3,000 to purchase protective suits and bug spray for sanitation workers who come in contact with infested items as well as $100,000 personnel costs related to the criminal prosecution enforcement of bed bug violations now mandated by its new legal status as vermin.

[Emphasis added.]

Note: in order to place the complaints statistics in context, Cincinnati’s population is 332,252.

These pages may be of related interest:

1. Cincinnati’s ambitious bed bug inspection program cancelled in budget crisis
2. Cincinnati may be unable to keep up with the demand for bed bug inspections
3. Why so quiet, Cincinnati?
4. Letter in support of the Community Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell
5. A small preview of the Cincinnati/Hamilton County bed bug task force report