If North Highline residents want about the same services as they have now if the area incorporates as a seperate city, it will cost them nearly $7 million more than tax and fee income estimated by a consultant. hired

The Nesbitt Planning and Management firm, hired by the county to help the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council figure out the future of the unincorporated area, estimates a city government would cost taxpayers $15.4 million a year and another $1.4 million in one-time start-up charges. That adds up to $16.8 million.

Keeping tax and fee income at a level similar to comparable cities, North Highline would take in $10.2 million a year.

North Highline board vice president Judy Duff had a quizzical look on her face when she heard the numbers.

"Does that mean we would run a deficit of nearly $7 million?"

She was told that was correct.

When an audience member asked how they would raise the difference, he was told by consultant Cathy Allen that either taxes and fees would have to be increased or services would have to be reduced - or a combination of increases and reductions.

The estimates of costs and revenue were drawn from what the North Highline council had set down as its requirements. Nesbitt then made comparisons with three other cities considered comparable. Those cities were adjacent Burien, nearby Des Moines and University Place in Pierce County.

North Highline had population that closely approximated the three cities, but it was lower in assessed valuation than the others. Its sales tax revenue was considerably below the comparable cities.

At current levels, North Highline generates just over $1 million in sales tax revenue, while Burien takes in $2.8 million; University Place $2 million and Des Moines $2.1 million.

The biggest cost of incorporation would be for law enforcement, the Nesbitt study showed.

"Police services are often both a major local government expense and a service strongly sought by residents of an unincorporated area," said the study.

The North Highline council "directed that this study presume a contract for police services with the King County Sheriff and that the current level of police services by used for projecting costs," the report said.

The sheriff has estimated that it would cost North Highline $6,162,410 a year of its continued coverage of the area. That would provide nearly exactly the same service as now, including deputies wearing county uniforms and supervised by the Sheriff's present Precinct 4.

The $6 million annual cost for law enforcement includes police officers and their support staff, communications and specialized functions such as the Major Crimes Unit, Major Accident Response, domestic violence, fraud and DUI services. The total full time equivalents for North Highline would be 56 people for coverage 24 hours a day for the entire year.

The new City of North Highline (or whatever name is chosen) would have a city manager and a council of seven members, who would elect a mayor from one their members. Nesbitt's proposal would have council members paid $7,200 a year and $9,000 for the mayor. The legislative branch would cost an estimated $126,000 a year.

The city would have a Planning and Community Development department that would cost $1.7 million a year with a start-up cost of $350,000, the study proposes. It would include building and code enforcement, city planning, economic development and administration.

A Parks and Recreation department to administer and do upkeep of the 15 county parks in its boundaries, plus Evergreen Pool. The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council has requested "this analysis include an assumption that maintenance and recreation services would be increased upon incorporation," said the Nesbitt governance study.

It was proposed that a new city might want to negotiate with Burien city government over Evergreen Pool because it is a regional facility. The pool is 20-plus years old and therefore more expensive to operate and its limited facilities could mean use is lower than for a newer facility.

In all, the Parks and Recreation department would cost an estimated $1.7 million a year, the study says.

Public Works, including maintaining roads, providing engineering services and surface water management would cost an estimated $2.3 million annually.

Add to that a Social and Health Services department for $418,000.

Total bill each year would start at $15,477,906. In addition, first year start-up costs would be an estimated $1,354,200. That would provide a city staff of 110.7 full-time equivalents.

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council next meets on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at the North Highline Fire Station, 1243 S.W. 112th St., in White Center.

Jack Mayne can be reached at 923.0300 or jmayne@westseattleherald.com