Residents and community groups in south Snohomish County living in the natural extension of the City of Bothell have formed a group to seek annexation to the City of Bothell. They will begin collecting signatures in late September. The group called “NEWBA” (North – East – West Bothell Annexation), is a composite of existing neighborhood groups and individuals and represents over 20,000 residents.

Recent consultant studies commissioned by the City of Bothell found that annexation at this time is a financial advantage for the City. Taxes collected by the City from the areas proposed for annexation would equal or exceed Bothell’s increased operational expense.

At the same time, the studies found, that residents with comparable property in Bothell pay less property tax than those in unincorporated Snohomish County.

Not counting increases in taxes various jurisdictions might impose, residents whose property is annexed into Bothell are likely to experience a net reduction in their overall taxes. Taxes are sometimes difficult to calculate and predict so the impact of annexation differs from household to household and from tax to tax. NEWBA has a worksheet to help individuals estimate their tax.

More important for annexed residents might be the increased quality of service they are likely to see and the greater control they have over their neighborhoods. Bothell also offers greater accessibility and identity, especially as traffic problems make Everett, the Snohomish County seat, further and further away.

Existing Bothell residents would also come out ahead, not only because of the advantages seen for the City government serving them, the increased resources available for building a better City, and the increased clout the City would have. Bothell residents would have a reduction in their already small per capita City debt and the ability to get more capital more cheaply should the City need it.

Finally, Snohomish County is spread thin in some areas, as many counties in the state are, and annexation would reduce the cost of services expected from the County more than it reduces the revenue the County receives from the annexed areas.

NEWBA has presentation groups and information fliers to help residents with the facts and the process. NEWBA website: http://newba.sagestudio.com/index.php; e-mail: newba.info@yahoo.com, and volunteers: Mickie - (425) 218-9847, Len - (425) 481-1629, Gene - (425) 481-6280.