 The annexation had been generally supported by the citizens of Petersburg, black and white alike, since the mid-1960s, as a necessary measure to allow the city of expand its tax base and its potential for growth and development.The city argued to the counties that it was better prepared to provide municipal-type services than the predominately rural counties and that the city needed more land for expected new development.The annexation was opposed by the county governments, who lost most of their commercial tax base, as well as the residents of the annexed suburban areas.