Keep It Rural
We live in a location that is great. We have easy access to freeways, it's quiet, and there is hardly any crime. If we annex to Federal Way, we will lose our small rural community feeling and become a part of one of the worst crime-ridden cities in King County. As for myself, I do not like turning on the television almost every night and seeing that something has happened again in the city of Federal Way. This city is asking us to join them and become a part of them. Do you really want to become part of a city that has shootings, car thefts, car prowls, vandalism, assaults, prostitution and burglaries? (Please visit CrimeReports.com and see this information for yourself.) I don't and I don't think you do, either! Do not sign their petition and tell them to leave us alone!
Do not sign any petition they are asking you to sign!
Here are some more reasons not to annex to Federal Way:
- Annexation may be considered unnecessary if the community's needs, or resources, are limited. It may be unwise if the community is not physically, economically, or socially related to the annexing city.
- Residents outside the city may argue that they chose to build and live there in order to avoid taxes for services they do not want. Industry and commercial businesses may state that they located outside the city to avoid certain business and property taxes.
- Residents may wish to retain the community's “rural” character and, for this reason, may oppose annexation as a step toward greater urbanization. There may, for example, be a strong opposition to municipal animal controls—both leash laws and restrictions on large animals.
- The city's ordinances, regulations, and license requirements may not be appropriate for a particular fringe community.
- Residents may desire a higher degree of community identity than they believe they will enjoy as part of a large city. They may want to retain special districts and their attendant influence. A larger municipal government may be less accessible to the people.
- There may be distrust of the government and politics of the city to which annexation is proposed.
- The city may not be able to finance the additional services expected by residents of the area proposed for annexation, and territory that is annexed to a city may be a financial drain upon it for many years. Services may not be available for extension without adversely affecting in-city service levels or without utility rate increases. Existing police or fire forces may be overextended, reducing the level of protection to the entire community.
- There may be fear that annexation may lead to a geometric progression of municipal problems. It cannot be presumed that it will be more economical for a city to provide services to a larger area. Extending the service area may cost much more for each unit than the existing per unit cost.
- Since most annexations are very small, annexation does not satisfactorily address community and regional concerns.