Disbanding city doesn’t make sense financially

There is a small but vocal group of voters petitioning to “disincorporate” the city of Spokane Valley. While it is their legal right to work for this change, it is also the right of other citizens to set the record straight. So, consider this:

Before we became a city, we were a just a minor part of Spokane County, and we were governed by the Spokane County commissioners.

Now I have nothing against the commissioners, but because the county is divided into three districts apportioned by population, we basically had one commissioner while the city of Spokane had two. In effect, the Spokane Valley area was being ruled by the city of Spokane and its interests.

Spokane Valley routinely had much more tax money taken out than what was spent here, and we had little say on countywide issues. Politically, that is what you call a milk cow. It was also the cause of the original Boston Tea Party.

I am not critical of the previous governing arrangement, as it was proper under the law. But it was clearly time for us to take our destiny into our own hands and rule ourselves. That is what we did when we voted to incorporate, and we instantly become the seventh largest city in the state.

Today, we are the one of the few major cities in the state that does NOT have a budget crisis, because now we keep our tax dollars here at home. If you want the real financial facts about our city, google the “City of Spokane Valley” Web site, and look at “City Finance 101” on the opening page. You will see for yourself that our city is in extremely good financial condition, our government is stable and successful, and our budget is in balance.

I see no rational purpose in turning back the clock to the days when we had no control over our own destiny. If the “disincorporators” want real change, perhaps they should put up a slate of candidates for the next election.

Blowing up our city government is not a reasonable option.