Burien City Council members are likely on Monday, April 2 to request an Aug. 7 election date for annexation of White Center and North Highline.
The King County Council formally sets the election date at the request of the City Council.
Only voters within the proposed annexation area will vote on the measure. Burien voters will not have a say in the election.
If the North Highline voters approve annexation, the unincorporated area will most likely become part of City Manager Mike Martin told council members on March 19 that he has "professional certainty" that the $5 million per year sales tax credit promised to Burien if it annexes White Center and North Highline will remain.
He said none of the budget proposals coming out of the Legislature's regular session or special session contemplate removing the credit.
"It's not on anybody's list," Martin declared.
Several Burien residents spoke against annexation on March 19 while a few North Highline residents said they favored Burien annexing the area.
Those against annexation stressed the potential costs and the uncertainty of the city receiving all or part of the sales tax credit.
North Highline residents speaking for annexation stressed the area’s potential, which could be enhanced by being added to Burien.
Several Burien council members previously indicated that through new zoning laws Burien could reverse White Center’s economic slide. They warned that if the area is annexed to Seattle or remains in King County, problems caused by North Highline’s poverty would spread into Burien.
Councilman Jack Block Jr. asked Martin when the council would have to decide to call for an election if it was delayed until the November election. With the presidential election on the ballot in November, voting rates would presumably be higher than during a midsummer election.
Deputy Mayor Rose Clark said she will not be at the council's April 16 meeting so would like the election date decision be made on April 2.
Previously, Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak was the only city lawmaker opposed to annexation. However, annexation critic Bob Edgar defeated long-time Councilman Gordon Shaw in the November election. Many believe Shaw’s defeat was based on his outspoken support for annexation.
Block has generally supported annexation but has called for delays so that Burien could negotiate further with King County.
City Manager Mike Martin said the state Legislature is expected to include in its final budget a state sales tax credit to Burien of $5 million for ten years if the area is annexed. Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to approve the credit. Martin had said the city would not go ahead with the proposed annexation if the credit is removed from the budget. The governor had proposed reducing the credit.
Annexation opponents have criticized a summer vote saying many people are on vacation then or do not vote in the August primary.
On Oct. 3, the City Council voted to notify the King County Boundary Review Board of Burien’s intent to annex White Center and the remaining portion of North Highline.
The board held public hearings on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10 at Cascade Middle School. The board approved Burien’s request on Feb. 16.
