CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Despite the urging of state and federal health officials, city leaders have decided against spraying for mosquitoes in several parks as a precaution against Eastern equine encephalitis.

Though the city recently obtained a state permit to spray for mosquitoes, officials Wednesday opted not to, saying the $45,000 price tag is too steep and the procedure wouldn’t eliminate the threat of the mosquito-borne disease.

State Epidemiologist Jose Montero and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that Concord spray because the city is a concentrated urban area where a little spraying could go a long way.

But Concord officials said the state should pay for spraying because the disease isn’t restricted by municipal boundaries.

“We’re talking about a lot of money for six parks in a 64-square-mile city and I don’t think that’s going to be effective protection,” Mayor Mike Donovan said. “I’m also concerned about setting a precedent for a very expensive program… I fail to see this as a municipal responsibility.”

So far the state has confirmed two human cases of the disease, a Concord man and a Londonderry woman. Two other suspected cases are awaiting confirmation.

Concord’s city manager had proposed spraying six city parks and two schoolyards during the next five weeks. Manchester also received permission to spray and planned to do so in nine spots around the city.

In 2001 and 2002, Concord sprayed against mosquitoe larva to combat West Nile Virus. But the city never has sprayed for adult mosquitos, a costlier undertaking.

Sarah MacGregor, owner of Dragon Mosquito Control, which would have had the city contract, said the state still is six weeks away from the end of mosquito-season.

September, she said, generally is the most active month for the type of mosquitoes that can carry the disease.

“We don’t believe we’re at the end of the season here. We’re just getting into the EEE season,” MacGregor said.