Annexation is not in residents' best interest

On Oct. 22, 2013, the East Hope City Council decided to request annexation into the Sam Owen Fire District and quit supporting the Hope/East Hope joint fire department because they felt it was in the best interest of the citizens.

This was despite a petition from 52 citizens who opposed the idea and an initiative petition calling for a citizen vote on the issue. The initiative petition has the required number of signatures and has been submitted to the city, but it won’t be voted on until May. If the initiative passes, the citizens will be able to vote to withdraw from the fire district. The decision to go ahead with the annexation will essentially mean that the city taxpayers’ local property tax burden will be more than doubled. The total city real property tax is currently $40,493 per year and another $43,000-plus would be added on to that by the Sam Owen Fire District.

The City Council will soon be making decisions about some long-needed water system upgrades, based on an engineering study being done by an engineering firm. I’ve long supported the need for water system upgrades, but I am having my doubts now because I don’t trust the current City Council to be able to make a rational decision that is in the best interest of the citizens. I don’t think I can support any water system upgrades decision they may make.

ED BUTLER

Hope