With Thursday’s state Supreme Court refusal to take another lookat Brookhaven’s annexation, the city’s boundaries will soon enlargeand its population will grow.

Brookhaven officials, as to be expected, welcomed the finaldisposition in the lengthy legal endeavor. They are hoping for aharmonious transition and are looking forward to providing cityservices to their new neighbors.

Annexation opponents remain skeptical, though, and see asdubious the city’s ability to provide services to an area that willbe three times as large as what is currently being handled. Aspokeswoman for a group of objectors said Friday the city has a lotto prove.

As we move forward in this new era, a key point to remember isthat the annexation will be beneficial for the city and for thosenew residents who are becoming a part of it.

For the city, the annexation means a portion of the sales taxescollected by businesses just outside the old city limits will nowcome back to the city to help fund the expansion-relatedobligations. Those sales tax dollars should help boost the city’sranking and its profile around the state.

Population-related benefits could also be realized throughrestaurants and other businesses that may be more interested inlocating here now that the city’s population is more than 10,000.As Mayor Bob Massengill alluded to last week, Brookhaven has haddifficulty attracting those entities while its population was belowthat level.

Soon-to-be new Brookhavenites will benefit from enhanced policeand fire protection and, as a result, should see decreases in theirfire insurance premiums. County law enforcement and volunteer fireservices have served the annexation area well over the years, andtheir assistance will be appreciated during the upcomingtransitional period.

Last week’s ruling brings to a close a legal battle that hasbeen going on since 2003 when the initial court trial began. Evenbefore then, city officials were working hard to determine anannexation area that was reasonable.

Residents of the annexation area who will soon be part of thecity should hold fast to any healthy skepticism and press cityleaders to follow though on the promises made during the 2003-04trial. And city leaders should do everything possible within a fairand reasonable manner to address the burdens that have been placedupon them.

With strong leadership, cooperation and a fair evaluation ofprogress by all involved, this new annexation can prove to be agreat accomplishment for the city and the new residents who willnow be a part of it.