We’re at another crossroads with the Bothell annexation, and once again, it’s turned into facts versus fear mongering.

On one side, we have a citizen-led group with fact-based information showing we’ll have lower overall taxes and more services. The annexation has been endorsed by third parties including politicians and newspapers.  We’ll have a small community government that has won multiple awards for how they’ve run the city.  The annexation voters will make up about 40 percent of the voters and will have more say and local representation than we currently do in the county.

The other side of the issue, funded by a public-employee special-interest group whose members primarily don’t live in the area, has continued with their history of fear and mistruths. “The sky is falling” scenario fits them well.  State law dictates how annexations must happen including dealing with emergency services, fire departments, law enforcement and city debt.  They ignore those facts and once again go with the fear tactic about all these issues.  We are told we’d be Bothell’s cash cow, but yet they then say Bothell cannot afford it.  It can’t be both!  Their tactics change faster than the weather in the convergence zone.

Should we believe verifiable facts or fall for the fear?  I’m voting YES because I want a better future for my family!  We must look past the fear to see the future of Bothell!

Kirk Engle, Lynnwood