Highline Times, Friday, July 22: Annexation of White Center is affordable. Surprise. Circus Annexus, Act II.

Since Burien would be on the receiving end of a state sales tax credit, Burien can afford to annex North Highline. Never mind that the credit expires after a certain period of time. Would annexation be financially viable without the sales tax credit? What other funds would be required to support the annexation? The answer may never be known while the current council is in power because everyone is on board to come up with data supporting annexation.

Financial data may be central to the question of annexation, but the council states that there are other concerns. Would the other concerns derail the train to annexation? Probably not.

Seattle is still being regarded as the opponent. As one of the council members stated before the last annexation, we do not want Seattle to be too close a neighbor. Whatever Seattle might do would affect the future of Burien.

It sounds like the decision to annex has already been made. There will be more discussion in the future, but the council does not want to be confused with facts. And an advisory vote is out of the question.

James Sharkey
Burien