In response to Benson Hill resident David L. McCammon’s letter to the editor (Renton Reporter, Oct. 1, 2009, “Annexation to city not automatic”), I would like to offer some comments. I am a resident of Fairwood and my aunt, Terri Briere, is a Renton City Council member but I support incorporation of the City of Fairwood.

As recently as 2005 during a booming economy, Renton was not prepared to do an annexation of Fairwood. They have a growing budget deficit and the layoffs are coming (see Mayor Law’s letter, published Oct. 9, 2009, “City budget tight; layoffs are likely”). Renton finds itself in the same position that King County is with a need to slash its budget and rein in spending. The Landing is fairly empty and car dealerships have vacated huge lots in Renton. All cities, including the proposed City of Fairwood, will have to use caution in the near term when writing their budgets.

The opposition campaign would like us to believe that Renton can solve all of Fairwood’s problems during the worst recession in more than 25 years by annexing Fairwood soon. Perhaps Renton will annex soon but service levels for all Renton residents would be reduced due to Renton’s budget problems. Renton annexed Benson Hill less than two years ago and is struggling to absorb that community.

With service levels in Renton being cut soon, Fairwood residents need to ask themselves if Renton can do a full annexation of the Fairwood Proposed Annexation Area or if they will only act upon the much smaller Red Mill Annexation Area in Fairwood which includes all of our commercial business area and be done with Fairwood for many years to come as this will give Renton a good share of the tax base without the need to provide services to most residents in the Fairwood area. Fairwood will lose the King County Sheriff’s Office storefront within months and police service from King County for our “urban residential” neighborhoods will be reduced to “rural levels” in 2010-2011 if voters do not vote YES on Proposition 1 Nov. 3.

Supporters of Fairwood Incorporation are residents and local business owners in Fairwood, as well as the King County Sheriff’s Officers’ Guild. We wish to be independent of Renton’s control in our service levels and our future. A recent state law change allows annexation by interlocal agreement with the county, the annexing city and the fire district which does not require a public vote. Fire District 40 has an interlocal agreement with the City of Renton, so this type of annexation could happen in Fairwood. Our fire engines would be staffed with three firefighters instead of the four firefighters we pay for now, and we would lose our aid car from the Fairwood Station on Petrovitsky if annexed to Renton. That is a service reduction, not an increase in service. I urge Fairwood voters to APPROVE Proposition 1, City of Fairwood Incorporation.

Erin Aboudara

Fairwood