A few minutes after a corps of Seattle city department heads outlined the fact taxes would not soar nor would services be severely curtailed in the unincorporated North Highline area of it annexed to the city, a report on four focus groups showed residents of the area are not really hot about anything except keeping the status quo.

One of the four groups couldn't come to any decision on whether the area should remain in King County, become their own city, join Burien or annex to Seattle.

"To conclude, age, taxes and lack of information made for an often inflexible discussion," said Cathy Allen of The Connections Group in Seattle, who conducted the focus groups paid for by King County as she reported last week to the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council.

"However, participants did acknowledge the unlikelihood of remaining unincorporated," she said. "Though the group contested their options, they did not contest the right of the majority to decide for them."

Moments after Allen's report, Karen R. Veloria, a Highline council member elected in April, criticized the fact that so few minorities were included in the focus groups.

"I went to three of the four focus groups," Veloria said. "I was often the only minority in the room. Surely there was a way to find more (minorities) to attend."

Allen said The Connections Group tried hard, but many of the apartment buildings in White Center, Top Hat, Boulevard Park and other unincorporated areas are locked and canvassers were unable to reach people.

"We did indeed try," said Allen, and she added that the group would try harder in a second round of focus groups later on.

The summary of the four focus groups showed a total of 41 area residents. Of that number, 21 were males, 20 females but only five - 12 percent - were self-identified as minorities.

Veloria suggested that letters be sent in the languages of the residents of the area.

"The Post Office gets beyond the locked apartment doors," she said.

The City of Seattle "overview of Seattle services that would be available after annexation" came some weeks after a similar meeting with Burien city officials.

The Seattle contingent was led by Kenny Pittman, a senior policy analyst for the Seattle Office of Policy and Management. He said the tax impact on North Highline would be minimal for the average household.

Property tax would decrease about $53 per year on the average, while utility taxes would increase an average $181, Pittman's report said. That would mean the "average" household would pay $2,890 to Seattle, compared with $2,709 to King County.

The monorail tax would not immediately be collected by the new residents, Pittman said.

"The mayor says that would take a new vote," he said.

Business would have a bigger hit, Pittman said. Seattle has the business and occupations tax, a tax on business activity measured by gross proceeds from sales, gross income of the business, or the value of products resulting from activities conducted within the state. That would add a $537 tax on sales of $250,000. In addition, North Highline businesses would have to pay an annual business license of $50.

Highline would lose its fire department if annexed to Seattle, but Pittman said most of the current employees of the North Highline Fire Department would be hired on a seniority basis by the city or placed on a priority rehire list. In addition the city would review whether they need to add the Highline fire station or whether the area can be covered from the city's Fire Station No. 37 at 35th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Othello.

"People in Arbor Heights say the response time for aid cars and fire help takes too long," said one person, but Assistant Fire Chief Kenneth L. Tipler said all of the response times in Arbor Heights were within required limits. He did say that the North Highline area would be surveyed for service needs if the area is annexed.

The city officials also noted that there are enhanced health services from the city not available from the county and also enhanced family and education services paid for by the city voter approved Families and Education Levy.

The report on the focus groups showed a number of revealing comments from the participants. In general most people favored either staying unincorporated or becoming a city itself, although that option was considered by many as too expensive for be realistic. Burien was favored over Seattle as an annexation partner.

Staying out of Seattle would mean "we don't get stuck with the monorail tax," said one. Another said, "I'm a skeptic. What's that going to do for me?" Seattle would mean "we're a tiny dot on a huge map. Our voice is just going to be the smallest squeak." A woman said, "It would take a lot (to go to Seattle) . . . simply because I don't want to be south Seattle." And, still another said, "Seattle will ignore us until we won't be bothered."

Burien supporters had a varied list of reasons. "I relate to Burien. I shop there. I live in the area," said a woman. Another said, "I'd go to Burien. They're trying to include the people, trying to include the area. I think they would be responsive to the people." Another woman said, "I just feel like in Burien, we wouldn't be lost."

But some rejected Burien.

"I personally don't like Burien. They wasted a lot of money on town center." Another said Seattle was a "real city" while Burien was "more focused on Burien and not looking around." And the man who said, "Burien is going downhill . . . They destroyed their town, destroyed their businesses."

Many just want to be left alone to be as they are now.

"I have a sense that I don't know what we're being asked, but I'm pleased with the situation the way it is."

In another action, the Highline council voted 9 to 3 to have Steve Jeffreys fill a vacancy on the body. Annette King was the losing candidate.

Jack Mayne can be reached at jmayne@westseattleherald.com or 932.0300.