Effort to form new city near Renton lags in slow count

The proposed city of Fairwood was trailing Tuesday night during a painfully slow vote count.

Early absentee ballots and only one of 31 precincts had been counted by late Tuesday, leaving the outcome uncertain.

If approved, Fairwood, a community of almost 24,000 southeast of Renton, would become the first new city in King County since Sammamish incorporated in 1999.

Proponents of the new city said it would put residents in control of local government at a time King County is struggling to pay for police protection and other services to unincorporated areas.

Debate over the proposed city has split the 1960s-vintage suburb between those who preferred to join Renton and those who felt little in common with their larger neighbor.

Opponents said the new city would have trouble paying its bills. A county-funded study said the city would be financially viable but would have very little sales-tax revenue and would have to raise property taxes periodically to maintain basic services.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105