Another vote is inappropriate

Published 1:15 pm Tuesday, March 27, 2012

We have lived 37 years in Alderwood Manor, within one mile of Lynnwood’s city limits, where about 90 percent of our local commercial and community activity occurs. We rarely visit Bothell’s old town center and do not identify with that city.

When Bothell proposed the annexation of areas of unincorporated Snohomish County we felt, fair enough, the people should decide this important question. We voted “no” and were led to expect the November election would settle the issue. Annexation was rejected by the voters. Case closed — not hardly!

Recently, Bothell city leaders teamed up with residents wanting their proposed land use policies to be imposed on areas proposed for annexation. What started out as a vote on voluntary annexation evolved into an attempted hostile takeover of large areas of the county.

Bothell has strong financial incentives to annex these areas. The state offers funds to cities to encourage annexations. Annexation provides an enormous increase in the city’s tax base, to be tapped for $200 million in capital improvements planned for a new city hall and urban infrastructure in the old town area.

By submitting annexation to re-vote, city officials demonstrated that they care much more about financial incentives than the views of the majority that voted against annexation. Who needs this kind of relationship?

Mike and Barbara Truax

Lynnwood