Residents of Finn Hill, Juanita and Kingsgate can improve government services without raising their taxes by voting for annexation to Kirkland on Nov. 3. A negative vote will only lead to reduced services and an uncertain future for this Potential Annexation Area (PAA). Simply stated, King County is not structured to provide municipal services to urban areas, which are surrounded by cities. It is costly for county staff to hopscotch around the region to provide municipal services to these unincorporated islands. The primary missions of the county are to provide regional services and limited services to rural areas. Facing budget deficits, the county has and will continue to cut services to these urban islands. The county Executive has announced the potential closure of 39 neighborhood parks, including 132nd Square and Edith Moulton in the PAA. The county provides the 31,000 residents of the PAA with just one police patrol, which also covers areas to the east. Even that minimal police service is in jeopardy. The county Sheriff has testified that the proposed 2010 County budget includes cuts, which will force her to lay off 26 officers.

By contrast, the City of Kirkland’s primary mission is to provide municipal services. It plans to provide three police patrols in the PAA. It will keep the neighborhood parks open and maintain them to city standards. The city’s staff and elected officials are far more accessible than county staff and officials. Now is the time for us residents of the PAA to join the city.

Ken Davidson, Kirkland