Cities are creatures of the state. Renton and others must do the state’s bidding. They have no choice, even if it costs them a lot of money.

The state for decades has told cities to annex urban areas on their borders, the theory being that cities are best equipped to serve lots of people. That helps keep rural areas rural and eases the need for far-flung government services. Those are all worthwhile goals; all levels of government share the responsibility to meet them.

This partnership has worked, as long as the state was willing to help pay to put its growth-management laws into practice. That has changed, and for some cities it could feel like a betrayal.

The Growth Management Act is, perhaps, the largest unfunded mandate of them all.

To help balance her hemorrhaging budget, Gov. Chris Gregoire is proposing to drastically change how the state helps pay for the transition costs of newly annexed areas. It could cost Renton millions of dollars the city never thought it would have to replace.

Loss of those funds could threaten the city’s ability to annex West Hill, an area much deserving of a more benevolent government. Benson Hill/Cascade residents are already benefitting from improved services. Ask them. But those services could degrade in that area, along with the rest of the city.

That left the Renton City Council scurrying to change the date of the West Hill annexation vote by almost a year.

The legislature must honor the state’s commitment, especially when at stake is the most efficient way to provide government services to large urban areas.  This is a smart use of our tax dollars, not another special interest protecting its ox.