By Eric Mathison
Update:
Burien City Council members decided Monday, March 19 to discuss setting an election date of Aug. 7 for North Highline annexation at their next meeting on April 2.
City Manager Mike Martin told the lawmakers 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.
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 decision on requesting an Aug. 7 vote to be made on April 2.
Council members Lucy Krakowiak and Bob Edgar oppose annexation but did not speak on the subject at the March 19 meeting.
Here is our previous coverage:
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
