Editor's note: Many objections have been raised in recent months about the potential annexation by the city of Burien of the North Highline unincorporated area. Recently, the Times/News submitted a series of questions to Burien council members and staff for official facts and perspectives from the city on this divisive issue. The second of three installments presenting their answers appears below.

How many water customers in Burien would be affected if Seattle annexes most or all of the North Highline unincorporated area? How much would their rates increase?

Water District 20, including North Highline and Burien, has about 8,900 customers, with about 3,600 (or 40 percent) in Burien.

The District has estimated that a Seattle annexation of all or most of North Highline, followed by Seattle Public Utilities assuming the portion of the District in the annexed area, would leave the 3,600 remaining Water District 20 customers in Burien with a rate increase of about 76 percent.

The Mayor of Seattle recently wrote a letter to Burien Mayor Joan McGilton, stating his intention to enter into a contract with Water District 20 if there was a Seattle annexation. Depending on the financial terms of this contract, this could reduce the rate impact of a Seattle annexation.

Water District 20, in testimony before the Burien City Council, has said that it could prefer a franchise agreement instead of a contract with Seattle Public Utilities.

How many sewer customers in Burien would be affected if Seattle annexes most or all of North Highline? How much would their rates increase?

Sewer service is provided by two special districts that overlap Burien and North Highline: Southwest Suburban and ValVue. Southwest Suburban has about 8,100 existing connections and ValVue has about 315 existing connections in Burien.

The districts have estimated that a Seattle annexation of all or most of North Highline, followed by Seattle Public Utilities assuming the portions of the sewer districts in the annexed area, could increase monthly rates for Burien customers of the remaining Southwest Suburban Sewer District by about 84 percent, and could increase monthly rates by about 18 percent for remaining customers of ValVue.

The Mayor of Seattle recently wrote a letter to Burien Mayor McGilton, stating his intention to enter into a franchise agreement with these districts if there were to be a Seattle annexation. Depending on the financial terms of this franchise, this could reduce the sewer rate impact of a Seattle annexation.

Seattle permits smaller lot sizes and greater housing/multi-family housing densities than does Burien. If Seattle annexes most or all of North Highline, will an adjacent population increase-with no retail buffer next to Burien-change the character of the city (as new Seattle residents go into Burien to eat, shop, etc.)?

Many North Highline residents already shop, eat and have their kids attend school in Burien. It is difficult for anyone at this point to predict what impact any annexation scenario might have on the character of Burien.

White Center and Boulevard Park have more available land for new housing than does Burien. Will this available land benefit Burien's long-term interests-better management of population densities; increased property tax revenues-if the city annexes all of North Highline?

According to the 2002 King County Buildable Lands Report, the North Highline area has less capacity for new housing than does Burien (capacity for 1,276 additional units in North Highline vs. 2,067 additional units in Burien). This question may need further evaluation after the Council determines the Potential Annexation Area boundary in October.

How much of the annual total cost of annexing all of North Highline will the tax credit cover? How much of a partial annexation will it cover?

For the City Council's preferred alternative (to annex only the southern portion of the unincorporated area) the sales tax credit would generate about $500,000 per year.

Does King County have funding to help Burien mitigate the costs of either full or partial annexation? If so, how much, and is Burien applying for this assistance?

Yes. King County's Annexation Incentive Fund was funded in 2003 with $10 million to provide an incentive for 10 affected cities to annex urban unincorporated areas such as North Highline. Some of this funding has already been allocated to earlier annexations in King County.

If a Potential Annexation Area is established, Burien can then negotiate with King County for operations funding. Other funds from the County may also be available to assist with capital needs.

Why has Burien recently put on the table new partial annexation options in which Seattle, not Burien, would acquire the North Highline Fire District fire station and the White Center King County Library?

Burien, Seattle and King County agreed in March to cooperate on resolving annexation issues in North Highline.

If Seattle annexes all or most of North Highline Fire District 11, the District will cease operating.

In Burien's preferred alternative, we have assumed that the existing fire station on Southwest 112th Street is too far west to provide effective service in North Burien and the other areas we may annex. However, it is well-located for Seattle's use to resolve service issues in Arbor Heights.

The fire station currently located at Des Moines Memorial Drive and Southwest 128th Street is too far east and cannot provide a reasonable response time to our northwest area. It, too, will need to be replaced.

Currently, Burien is discussing the possibility of a replacement fire station that is more centrally located in north Burien.

If the White Center library were annexed into Seattle, it would become part of the Seattle Library System and would probably remain open.

If an annexation by Burien left the White Center Library near the Seattle city limits, it could be closed, as most of its customers would be coming from Seattle be coming from Seattle