This summer I had the privilege of walking and talking to many people around Burien. From my personal contact I found that roughly 15% of those I talked to were against annexation for a number of reasons. About 15% were for annexation for a number of reasons as well. That leaves roughly 70% of the people I spoke to that did not have an opinion either way.

It is for this 70% that I am writing to you. Annexation is a complex decision, affecting much more than just the services provided by the city of Burien. Annexation is a decision that will also affect our special districts and school district. It is a decision that should be made with the full facts, the big picture, in mind. It should not be made with portions of data from one report combined with portions of another.

We have a rough idea of what happens if Burien annexes. The BERK report states that there is the potential of being 23% in the red year 11 if we do annex. The truth of the matter is that state law forbids cities from running in the red. That leaves the option that taxes may go up or services may be cut. This is an option I can live with because you and I have a voice in the matter via these chambers.

Within these walls you and I can help shape the opinion of those making the decision of raising taxes and cutting services.

King County has had a policy of concentrating poverty in South King County. The South King County Valley Cities have banded together to minimize these impacts with mixed results. However, in the greater Highline area the King County Government, until these last 20 years, has had free reign. Slowly the area of responsibility for King County has shrunk, yet by some numbers approximately 25% of low income housing within King County is still in North Highline. Combine that knowledge with that of Seattle concentrating poverty in its southern neighborhoods. In my opinion, Seattle can and will continue in King County's foot steps.

If Seattle were to annex North Highline the area will remain within the service boundaries of the Highline School District. This should concern us all because the Highline School District Tax payer, Burien residents - along with SeaTac, Des Moines, and Normandy Park - already subsidize North Highline education to the tune of millions.

I, as a Highlinetax payer am ok with subsidizing North Highline education. We have a small voice in the King County Council and I care about all Highline kids and want them to get the best education possible.

The issue goes back to Seattle annexing North Highline. The Average Seattle tax payer, via Seattle Public Schools, will not be paying for the newly christened Seattle Kids. They will not be a part of Seattle Public Schools and it will not affect their bottom line if they concentrate poverty in the area.

Highline Schools tax payers will continue to pay for these North Highline kids. However, we will now have ZERO voice in what happens in the area. Seattle could, in theory, double the amount of children and we will have NO say, no control.

I fear that Highline Public Schools will need to continually increase levies and bonds to pay for the ever increasing amount of Seattle Kids. I will vote for those levies and bonds because our children of Burien, SeaTac, Des Moines, and Normandy Park deserve the money. However, will the citizens vote to support the levies and bonds in a Seattle Annexation of North Highline scenario?

This is not the only reason I am in favor of annexation. However, I feel this is one area that has not being discussed.

Thank you,

Joey Martinez
Former Candidate for Burien City Council position 4.