Fairwood could thrive as a city and merits incorporation

It's been talked about for years. Should the Fairwood area incorporate into its own city, annex to Renton, or just stay unincorporated?

Remaining unincorporated is no longer an option because of the Washington state Growth Management Act, the King County Annexation Initiative, and troubled King County finances. We are left with only two choices for our future: form the city of Fairwood or become part of Renton.

Through grass-roots efforts and the signatures of 2,279 voters, we have the opportunity to choose on Sept. 19. By voting to incorporate the city of Fairwood, we will ensure that future choices will be in the hands of Fairwood citizens: important choices, like taxes and levels of service. Decisions about managing growth will be made by neighbors who value our wonderful community as it is today.

Sound too good to be true? At first, we thought so, too. How can we possibly have the tax base to form a city? That was our very first question when we began exploring governance options more than three years ago. Fortunately, the process of incorporating a city includes a detailed financial feasibility analysis done by independent experts.

The Fairwood feasibility study was performed by Berk & Associates, a reputable firm with a solid background in city finances. It concluded that a city of Fairwood can provide better services than we receive today without an increase in taxes. This study took into account all expenses, from road maintenance to the computer on the city clerk's desk.

Skeptical of the study? So were we. None of us wants to create a city that would struggle financially. We put a call out for financial experts who live in Fairwood to go through the study with a fine-toothed comb. This group included city finance managers, chief financial officers, chief executive officers and certified public accountants. They concluded that the Berk study was valid and that Fairwood is viable as a city. Take time to read the facts at www.choosefairwood.com.

Will Fairwood have a hundred-million-dollar budget? No. Fairwood will be a residential city with a limited commercial base similar to Newcastle, Sammamish and Normandy Park. Yes, businesses generate revenue, but they also require higher levels of expensive services such as police and fire. The residential city is a different kind of model, but not a new one. It is working well in many cities across King County.

If you want to be part of Renton, you should vote "no" on Sept. 19 but don't vote "no" thinking we can remain unincorporated. At the May 15, 2005, Renton City Council meeting, the leader of the group opposed to the city of Fairwood requested assistance pursuing annexation.

The wheels have already been put into motion.

Annexation to Renton can happen without a vote. The Boundary Review Board (BRB) has the authority to take a small annexation area and expand its size without limit (RCW 36.93.150). Residents within these expanded areas do not get a vote. It is happening right now.

The small Maplewood Addition Community (60 acres) off Highway 169 recently asked Renton to annex it. The BRB expanded the boundaries of the annexation area to more than 346 acres. Hundreds of residents in the expanded area will soon be annexed to Renton without any vote. This could happen to Fairwood.

There are many good reasons to vote for the city of Fairwood. Supporters believe residents of Fairwood are the best people to govern our area. We should choose the level at which we tax ourselves. We should choose how to spend our taxes on priorities that are important to Fairwood. Sept. 19 is our chance to ensure the future of our wonderful community. We should choose Fairwood.

Aaron McLuen is president of the Fairwood Task Force and has been involved with the incorporation group since October 2004. He is an information-technology project analyst at Sound Transit.