A letter in the April 22 edition suggested that residents in the PAA didn’t know what we might be getting if annexation happens – higher taxes, property rights infringements, etc. First, residents in the PAA pay about the same taxes as Kirkland residents for lower and declining levels of service. Second, the city staff did a fine job of outreach to the PAA. There were several focus group meetings at which differences between city and county standards were thoroughly explained. A sizeable majority (I was one) preferred the city standards.

Bob Thompson, PAA, Finn Hill