Yes Annex Signs Missing and Vandalized

Unfortunately most of our signs have been stolen or vandalized.  We understand that it is normal to lose signs but the amount stolen is extreme.  It would require several pickup loads to steal as many signs as were taken.  If you have the signs please return them.

Municipal League of King County Endorse Annexation

This Municipale League of King County has endorsed the annexation of Finn Hill, Juanita, and Kingsgate neighborhoods into the City of Kirkland.  For more information click here.

Letters from the Community

I am astounded at the false statements about police coverage being made by opponents of annexation.

The 2005 estimate of police staff needed to serve the city after annexation was never a “promise” to provide 77 new police officers to serve the annexation area alone. That initial estimate was unfortunately inflated; the department proposed having as many patrol districts in the PAA as there currently are in the entire city, essentially doubling the size of the department. We all knew that wasn’t

Letter from the Community

I am a citizen of the PAA and I am the owner of a business in Kirkland. I have been following the annexation issue for over 15 years. My support for annexation is simple: better services and representation for about the same tax dollars.

The police services alone are enough to get my vote. King County can call Kirkland PD for assistance (paid for by Kirkland taxpayers), but often do not. I have personal examples. It took two calls to 911 and 45 minutes for an sheriff to respond to Kamiakin Junior High when a non-student came on campus and threatened a student with a knife. Example number two: The lumber (valued at over $1500.00) for my son’s Eagle project was stolen from a church parking lot. The Sheriff took the report by phone, no investigation.

At every informational meeting I attended on annexation (there were many),

Letter from the Community

The following are letters from the community showing support for annexation. These have been reposted with permission of the author.

September 9, 2009

Dear Editor,

Kirkland Reporter

I am a strong advocate for annexation to Kirkland, having lived on Finn Hill for 22 years and having watched as development occurs in the County with little attention to the traffic, access and mobility needs of the community and neighborhood. The County’s benign neglect of arterials, pedestrian connections and overall operation, particularly near new development, has increased traffic congestion. For example, the newest drive-in Starbucks on 100th Avenue NE results in queues that back up into a busy intersection.

With annexation to Kirkland, I look

Letter from the Community

The following are letters from the community showing support for annexation. These have been reposted with permission of the author.

I’m astounded that the anti-annexation group continues to question what will happen to property taxes in the PAA after annexation. There is no question — property taxes will go down. Kirkland’s property tax levy is $1.03 per thousand, and the debt service on existing bonds is $0.11 per thousand, a total of $1.14 per thousand. Parcels in the PAA will no longer pay the county road tax of $1.59 per thousand, or the Fire District 41 levy of $0.90 per thousand (or, for homes east of 124th Ave NE, the Woodinville Fire levy or benefit charge, which is even higher). The rest of our property taxes stay the same, but it is undeniable that property taxes WILL go down. Katherine’s idea that this is just an “average” is mistaken — EVERY parcel will see this decrease. And so long as the legislature leaves I-747 in place, total property tax collected by the city can’t increase by more than 1% per year without voter approval.

Yes, we will pay a utility tax, which for the average family

Letter from the Community

The following are letters from the community showing support for annexation. These have been reposted with permission of the author.

I wholeheartedly support annexation to the city of Kirkland. There’s never been a better time to annex than NOW! Vote yes on Nov. 3.

Why?

1) King County is in much worse financial shape than the city of Kirkland. They don’t have the budget to support neighborhood services. They just keep cutting and cutting. Annexation is the only way to counter King County’s endless service cuts.

 

2) Police coverage will increase and response times decrease. Johanna’s examples ought to be enough, but I have my own. After a daytime burglary at my home some years ago, I wasn’t sure if the intruder was still in my house. I waited at a neighbor’s house for what seemed like eons before the King County Sheriff’s officers showed up. Investigation? Ha. On the other hand, we had a great experience with a Kirkland officer who recently took time to show my 3-year-old son his patrol car lights. Building those kinds of relationships early helps kids know that they can go to the police if they need help.

 

3) I have personally checked with the City of Kirkland Finance Department to ensure that the promise is true: even with debt service, property taxes will decrease by more than 14 percent.

 

4) And yes, even with a utility tax, total taxes will remain about the same or decrease slightly.

 

5) There’s hope of salvaging our parks with annexation to Kirkland. The county plans to close 132nd Square Park, Edith Moulton Park, and a handful of others in our area by the end of the year. While details have yet to be worked out, if annexation passes, the city parks director told me “Kirkland’s financial projections assumed that the city would have responsibility for neighborhood parks including 132nd Square, Edith Moulton, Juanita Heights Park, Kingsgate Park, Windsor Vista Park and Juanita Triangle.” It will take some time, but the plan is to bring the parks up to Kirkland’s standard of care. 

 

For the record, I’m your neighbor and have lived in the annexation area since 1992. I am a proud member of Citizens for One Kirkland. I’m a wife and mother, not an elected official or lawyer. I just want what’s best for my family. I hope you’ll join me in voting yes on Nov. 3.

 

Barbara Ramey

Juanita