Annexation

TO THE EDITOR:

As you may or may not know the City Council, for the City of Texarkana, will vote on August 13, 2018, for the annexation of several communities surrounding Texarkana. I live in one of these communities. I am writing this letter to make it known that I strongly oppose this annexation and the manner in which it is being carried out.

None of the families in the proposed areas are being given the opportunity to vote on this matter. While this may technically be a legal course of action, I believe that this is the wrong way to handle it. As citizens of the USA I believe that we should be allowed to vote on matters that will greatly impact our “pursuit of happiness”. This annexation reminds me of a familiar phrase “taxation without representation.” Our taxes go up and we don’t get a say in the matter. Our country was founded on the rights of the individual and our community is having the will of others imposed on us.

While I do understand that our City Council is representing us, I do not think that they are hearing us and certainly not acting in our best interest. I don’t believe that there is any benefit to these communities by annexing them. Especially not enough benefit to offset the increase in taxes and expenses that we are facing.

We had a meeting this evening to come up with a plan to try to get our voices heard and to oppose the annexation. Many of these people will face great financial hardships in increased taxes, expenses for connecting to city water and city sewer, and lost expenses for maintenance and repairs for existing systems.

Please consider these thoughts when you go to vote or when you talk with others. Please don’t allow the involuntary annexation of our homes and land. Please don’t increase the expenses of people that can’t afford it. Please don’t make us do something that we don’t get a chance to vote on.

James Tubb Texarkana, Texas