Some homeowners said they had received it but not read it, while others said they had not received it or even heard about it.

The funding measure proposes to increase assessments on residential properties from $5.08 to $13.44, an increase of $8.36.

District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager called it one of the "screwiest" ballots he had ever seen and said it raised several concerns.

"It is not being run by the county registrar of voters," he said. "There is no pro and con argument in the ballot pamphlet."

He was also concerned that it's a mail-in ballot being sent to a CPA firm.

Residents also have their doubts.

Jeremy Zimmer, who has not read the ballot but has read editorials about it, said he was concerned that only a few people would understand why the ballot was being sent, because no additional education on the issue was being provided by vector control.

"But I will read the ballot before I make up my mind," he said.

John Mancuso, another Willow Glen resident, also has not read the ballot but said he is skeptical.

"I am not sure how it is going to impact what they are trying to do," he said.

Bev Chuler said she did not like the ballot proposal. She has lived in Willow Glen for 25 years and said, "We have been able to keep our mosquitoes down. I will keep my eight bucks if that is all they are going to do with it."

Steve Matto, a resident for 14 years, said he threw his ballot away.

"It is just another way to tax property," he said.

The county's vector control community specialist, Kriss Costa, said Proposition 218 lays out the procedure for how the vector control district should send out the ballot.

"It is a special assessment, not an election, and it is a chance for the property owners to agree whether or not to increase the assessment fee," Costa said.

Not everyone who has read or heard about the ballot dislikes it.

Terry Barwegen said he has noticed a yearly increase in mosquitoes.

"I am glad we are doing it," he said. "To me it is worth it and somebody has to pay for it."

Costa said the district needs an extra $4 million because there is a budget shortfall of $600,000. The current budget is $3.3 million, but revenues are only $2.7 million.

She said the district computed the amount it needs by projecting 10 years' worth of expenses.

Those expenses would include the district buying its own building and upgrading its lab facilities, she said. Currently, the district leases space from the county.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a public hearing for June 21, which coincides with the ballot's due date. The results of the ballot will be known in August when the board of supervisors returns from its July break.

Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors will meet in the board chambers, 70 W. Hedding St., at 2 p.m. to discuss the Santa Clara County Vector Control assessment-fee increase ballot.