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| ID | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What is 'Annexation'? | Annexation is the process by which an area becomes part of a city. If an area is annexed, that area's government and many of its services come under the umbrella of the annexing city (in this case, services would be provided by the City of Renton). |
| 2 | What is 'Incorporation'? | Incorporation is the process of creating a new city. When an area incorporates, the residents are responsible for organizing and funding their own services and establishing and electing a city level of service and governance |
| 3 | What does 'Remain Unincorporated' mean? | An unincorporated area is one that is neither part of a city nor a city of its own. It is an area that relies on the county for the majority of local services including local courts, sheriff, roads and land use planning. |
| 4 | What would annexing to Renton mean to me? | Annexing into Renton would mean a difference in zoning and land use planning, having recreation, aquatic center and Senior Center services available at resident rates, and slightly better police response time to high-priority calls. |
| 5 | Does annexation mean that I have to pay higher taxes? | Depending on where you live, the typical homeowner would see a slight decrease in taxes if unincorporated areas were annexed to Renton. This estimate considers all taxes and fees (property taxes, utility taxes, garbage rates) that a household pays today. |
| 6 | Would residences of Benson Hill Communities be taxed separately from other Renton residences to make up the differences of the income and expenditures for BHC? | Once an area has been annexed it is part of Renton and all City residences are taxed equally. The State Constitution requires uniformity of taxation. But because the BHC proposed annexation is over 10,000 people, there will be State funding available for start up costs on the short term. Also, King County has pledged funding to Renton from the Annexation Initiative if the area annexes. |
| 7 | Renton has bonded indebtedness. Will we have to pay on their old debt? | Renton’s voter-approved debt should be repaid by 2009. The City has the option, at election, to ask the annexation area to share in the City’s voted bonded indebtedness. Benson Hill Communities residents have asked the City to not ask BHC residents to help repay this debt if annexed. Once the City Council considers the question of placing annexation on the ballot, they will make the assumption of debt decision as well. |
| 8 | Will I see any changes in my school district? | No. The school districts will remain as they are no matter what the City boundaries are. |
| 9 | Will I see any changes in my Library district? | At this time BHC would be served by City of Renton libraries which have a reciprocal borrowing agreement with King County Library System (a separate government and taxing district). This reciprocal borrowing agreement allows BHC residents to use Fairwood, Kent, Tukwila or other KCLS branch libraries. |
| 10 | What happens to other basic services like police, fire, parks and streets? | Newly annexed areas' police and fire service responsibility would transfer from King County and Fire Protection Districts 40 and 37 to the City of Renton. Parks and streets would become a city responsibility and, over time, Renton would bring those areas up to the City's level of service. |
| 11 | Why would be there be a difference in police response time between Renton and King County? | The Renton Police Department would likely re-district its patrol district boundaries to be able to serve the Benson Hill Communities area. With a smaller service area than the King County Sheriff and a focus on local patrol services, Renton is able to respond more quickly to high-priority calls. |
| 12 | Will water and sewer districts change? Will charges increase? | There will be no changes to either water or sewer district services or charges if the area is annexed. |
| 13 | Will septic tanks have to be converted to sewers? | No, any viably working septic system will not have to be hooked up to sewers. |
| 14 | Will our street names and addresses be changed? | No. Renton used to require a change in addresses, but has changed its policy because of the potential for possible future annexations. This change was made in summer 2006 and will first affect the “Preserve our Plateau” area in East Renton, followed later by other annexations such as BHC. |
| 16 | How would the zoning change? | Possible fewer new multi family dwellings allowed in BHC. |
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