After receiving a mailer from the opponents of Fairwood incorporation, I decided to investigate the City of Fairwood viability figures myself. The GoVoteNo group presents an apple-to-orange comparison of city income and expenses but no two cities are identical in their physical assets and needs and their corresponding expenses. After a review of the decline in revenue that other cities are experiencing, I believe that an accurate picture is revealed by discounting Fairwood’s revenue stream itemized in the Henderson BRB study, by an average of 30 percent and expenses by an average of 9 percent. This realistic analysis reveals that the City of Fairwood is economically feasible and will have a small surplus. I will vote YES for Fairwood Incorporation. Another reason to vote YES is the fact that our ONLY alternative to incorporation is annexation to Renton with all our tax dollars going to Renton. Renton has a deficit of more than $6 million this year and is drastically reducing services. Renton has General Obligation bonds of $42 million and a debt service expenditure of $4.5 million every year. Fairwood will start out with ZERO debt – why would we want to inherit Renton’s huge $42 million debt that has never benefited us and never will?

Another positive reason to vote for Fairwood incorporation is the increased police presence of two police cars (for the same amount of tax dollars paid now) that the City of Fairwood could direct with its local control. If we were to be annexed to Renton, then we would DEFINITELY have NO local control. I would rather have a Fairwood council representative for every 3,500 residents instead of Renton’s one per 15,000. Also, the city of Fairwood would be able to keep our four-person fire truck crews and keep the aid car here in Fairwood. Annexation to Renton would result in a three crewmember fire truck and move the aid car to the Renton Benson Fire Station.

This is Fairwood’s last chance to incorporate. We will not get another chance and we CANNOT remain part of unincorporated King County. Please join us in keeping the Fairwood community strong and independent by voting YES for Proposition 1.

Donald and Sheryl Jones

Fairwood