The Burien City Council at its Monday, March 19 meeting will consider going ahead with annexation of White Center and the remaining unincorporated North Highline area by setting an annexation vote for Aug. 7.

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 Burien in early 2013.

The Burien council will not vote on setting the Aug. 7 election at the Monday meeting. The formal council vote is expected April 2 or April 16.

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 was 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