Will my house value go down if I live in the City of Kirkland?

Many may speculate a change in real estate values based on annexation.  Will it go down because of annexation?  No.  In fact it can be argued that it will either stay the same since the development already exists or may even slightly rise due to houses in the PAA getting appraised at a higher value since they are in the City of Kirkland.

Why does the City of Kirkland want to annex?

While there  are several reason and some speculation why the City of Kirkland wants to pursue annexation the clear answer is that it is a part of the plan.  The City of Kirkland signed on to the growth management act where it designated that the PAA would eventually become a part of the City of Kirkland.

QUESTION: Why doesn’t the PAA form its own city?

As in the previous post it costs King County 40% more to provide services than it takes in from the PAA. So in short it would either costs the PAA more in taxes to maintain existing services, or would require fewer services. An example regionally of this scenario includes Sammamish and Kenmore. These places do have some commercial tax base.

QUESTION: Why does King County want the Kirkland PAA to become part of a city?

The short answer is money. To provide services to the Kingsgate, Juanita, and Finn Hill area costs the county roughly 20 million dollars a year. However, the area only generates around 12 million dollars a year. So King County has to come up with about 40% of their costs from other revenue areas. There are several other reasons but that is arguably one of the main reasons.

The Truth is, Annexation is the Right Thing to do for Kirkland

 The annexation discussion has been full of misinformation and confusion, primarily from a single special-interest group. The truth is, annexation is the best move for good government, for the community and for the region

• The City, not the County, should control development in its planning area—development that impacts traffic and other of quality of life issues for all residents.
• Annexation will spread current City debt over the entire Kirkland community, a big plus with the forecasted economic downturn.
• $40 million for annexation from the State and County is available now, but not later.
• After annexation, Kirkland will have a stronger voice in regional issues.
•  Annexation will formally recognize neighbors who are already a part of the business and social community of Kirkland.

Let’s Clear the Air

One of the great things about this country is the right to public discourse. There are opponents to the potential annexation with some understandable concerns. However Citizens for One Kirkland would like to point out some truths to annexation and challenge the decision makers as well

Why Annex, Why Now?

1.  The Growth Management Act encourages and recognizes that cities are the best option for managing growth in urban areas
2. With 1 million new people living in the Puget Sound region in the upcoming decades, it is more important than ever to manage the growth of the Community of Kirkland
3. The State of Washington and King County are providing financial incentives to cities that annex
4. The majority of residents in the PAA  (Potential Annexation Area) identify themselves as Kirkland Residents
5. King County has reduced the level of service for an area that roughly pays the same amount taxes as residents of the City of Kirkland
6. Increased law enforcement protection from 0-2 officers patrolling the unincorporated area to 3-4 officers
7. TRAFFIC!!!!  Most residents travel through the City of Kirkland on their way to work.  Everybody needs a say!
8. Increased representation for both PAA residents and City of Kirkland residents.  PAA residents will be represented by a city council and county representation and the collective community of Kirkland will have a larger say in regional matters.

Annexation of the PAA to Bothell, the Biggest Loser is …………………. Kirkland

The PAA, Bothell, and the City of Kirkland are coming to a crossroads. The PAA has for nearly 18 years been waiting patiently for a decision from the City of Kirkland about an annexation. Most PAA residents readily identify themselves as Kirkland residents but another option is presenting itself to PAA residents…Bothell. While most resident are probably resistant to the idea of annexation to Bothell, the idea is gaining momentum. Of the 3 players involved in annexation the one most likely to lose out long term is the City of Kirkland. Why?