Contrary to what some believe, the White Center Homeowners Association has worked to protect Burien's interests while it has advocated for Seattle annexation. We actively worked with Seattle to contract sewer services with the Southwest Suburban Sewer District (which Seattle has agreed to do), not only to keep North Highline's lower sewer rates but also to keep Burien sewer rates lower.
Our group also actively pushed Seattle to contract fire coverage for North end Burien residents (Burien now does with the North Highline Fire District) to assist Burien in avoiding the capital costs of building a new fire station blocks away from the future Seattle (now North Highline) fire station on Southwest112th St.
The discussion about making this new annexation tax incentive legislation fair during this legislative session is an opportunity for Burien. Considering that over 2,500 Burien voters, who are approximately 35 percent of the voters who will vote in the next Burien election, and 150 Burien businesses, have signed a petition against North Highline annexation, Burien should be working for a win-win for its community.
It is clear that there are costs to Burien for not annexing at least some part of North Highline. The right thing to do is that if Burien agrees to allow Seattle to annex all of North Highline, then Burien and Seattle would work together to amend this new legislation to allow Burien to recover the legitimate costs that Burien will incur by NOT annexing.
This solution can be added to the legislation right now, if Burien and Seattle work together to support it. This would be a fair and just solution for Burien residents, and will allow Burien to move past the annexation issue, heal this wound in their community, and focus on their new town square project.
There is interest in the legislature to help Burien move to a win-win. The question is whether the leadership in Burien is willing move in a direction that will actually serve Burien's interests and still ensure that North Highline residents get access to the superior services that we deserve through Seattle annexation.
Mark Ufkes, President
White Center
Homeowners Association
