The most costly North Highline annexation option for Burien could be doing nothing at all.

Countering an organized effort to derail any action by the city council, some community residents say annexation of the unincorporated area would cost Burien residents several million dollars a year in higher taxes and utility rates.

In a flier that claims "Burien cannot afford any form of annexation," the Burien Residents Against Annexation Political Action Committee states: "Costs under no annexation will be manageable and preserve our city's character."

But according to estimates by the city, the loss of shared police and fire services under full annexation of North Highline by Seattle would cost Burien an estimated $3.3 million a year.

These figures indicate that full annexation of the area by Burien would cost the city only $601,000 a year.

In another claim against annexation, the PAC states: "N. Highline has the highest crime rates in King County."

But 2005 statistics for major crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, vehicle theft, larceny and arson) from the King County Sheriff's Office show the unincorporated area had a crime rate of 70.4 per 1,000 residents.

Burien's rate for these crimes last year was 71.6/1,000 residents. Federal Way, Kent, Seattle, SeaTac, Renton and Tukwila also had higher crime rates.

The PAC also claims, "Police, fire, water and sewer staff are promoting annexation for their own career concerns.

But figures from these agencies indicate major impacts on Burien if Seattle annexes North Highline.

Police-Chief Scott Kimerer, in a recent letter to PAC member Ron Seale, noted the existing cost savings to the city for local law enforcement are "due to the sharing of costs with North Highline, SeaTac, and the King County Sheriff's Office....

"Burien currently has an average service level of three officers working patrol 24/7. This is the lowest staffing of any of our surrounding cities, including North Highline. We are also second in population ... and second in reported incidents of crime ... in the area.... Burien relies heavily on the support of the [King County Sheriff's] deputies in North Highline."

This support would be lost if Seattle annexes North Highline, the chief said.

Fire-Jim Reed, president of International Association of Firefighters Local 1461, which represents Burien/Normandy Park firefighters, has advised Burien Mayor Joan McGilton that local residents "receive excellent fire/EMS services from two outstanding fire departments ... the result of a cooperative agreement" between the Burien/Normandy Park and the North Highline departments.

"The public safety needs of all citizens, in all neighborhoods of Burien, are met," Reed said. "How the council decides on this matter has the potential to alter our well-established cooperation between both departments, and most importantly, impact the way in which emergency services are delivered to the citizens."

He added that "firefighters recognize that there is no threat to our employment status in any of the annexation scenarios."

Water District 20-Whether Seattle were to annex all or part of North Highline, a study by Katy Isaksen & Associates found the water district would lose revenue.

This would result in sharply higher rates for customers in Burien-and North Highline customers who would then be served by Seattle Public Utilities would pay even more.

Southwest Suburban Sewer District-General Manager Steve Sandelius, in a letter to PAC treasurer James Sharkey, said, "North Highline residents would see their sewer rates more than double is Seattle annexes the area."

A study conducted for the SWSSD [and the Val-Vue district] also "determined that rates throughout the rest of the District could potentially double if Seattle annexes North Highline," Sandelius added.