Written by Many West Hill residents were hoping to get a chance to vote early next year on annexing to Renton. While some West Hill residents have expressed interest in staying in unincorporated King County and others have expressed a wish that Seattle would annex them, there are a large number that have been expressing desire to annex to Renton. (The West Hill is in Renton’s potential annexation area, so it would take pro-active actions from multiple jurisdictions to bring about an annexation of West Hill to any other city. )
Renton Council has previously expressed tentative support of holding an annexation election (with a 5 to 2 council split), with the intent that IF residents of West Hill expressed a majority interest in annexing, Renton would make a final review of whether we could make the annexation work financially. The financial determination would be heavily dependent on an annexation funding sales tax “rebate” from Washington State, which was set up a few years ago specifically to enable cities to close the budget gap when annexing unincorporated urban areas.
But last week, Governor Gregoire revealed that she may propose eliminating this annexation funding. If she did, the budget gap for a West Hill annexation would grow from about ten million dollars over ten years (depending on the assumptions used) to about thirty million dollars over ten years– a gap I predict is too wide for a majority of Renton Councilmembers to accept.
In other words, if Governor Gregoire persuades the legislature to cut this funding, Renton could not afford to annex West Hill.
Here is an article with more information on this topic, as it relates to the city of Burien.
I’d be happy to support the annexation if the council would show how in a few years that it would be at least revenue neutral in a few years. Renton has a history of annexing areas without being able to clean things up (Highlands and Benson)
Why anyone would want to annex to Renton is beyond me. The “I do all my shopping in Renton” excuse is not relevant. Look at the city. somehow the residents think Renton is going to sink a bunch of money into the West Hill and fix the central West Hill retail corridor, it won’t happen. Our property values will sink even lower and the zoning will change. Renton has tied the West Hill up in its PAA for too long. Set us free, please.
Oh.. come on, why not join Renton. With our new libraries, we now have one of the highest property tax rates in King County! Yay!
Why would zoning change?
Two reasons I can think of: Renton may fix the sewer mess that’s there that’s keeping people from developing and the Growth Management Act probably would requite higher densities.
when you go to LA fitness you will be able to brag about it to all of your friends
Since this article was written, the Renton City Council has decided to schedule the vote for West Hill Annexation on this November’s ballot.
The city of Renton has invited the public to a West Hill Annexation Informational Open House on September 12, 2012 from 6 to 8 PM at Dimmitt Middle School, 12320 80th Avenue South on West Hill.
It’s curious that this meeting doesn’t seem to be listed anywhere on the City of Renton website, nor apparently are the most recent financial analyses regarding the West Hill annexation that were discussed in the City Council Committee of the Whole on June 18 this year. (See http://rentonwa.gov/government/default.aspx?id=6226 for the page where it seems to make sense to find the latest information available.)
Best,
–Mark