The real cost of annexation of the North Highline unincorporated area is not reflected in figures provided by the city of Burien, says a member of a political action committee opposed to merging with the area.

Ron Seale, a member of Burien Residents Against Annexation Political Action Committee, says the Burien claim that the "no annexation" option would be the most costly for Burien is not true.

The cost of services that North Highline will need, combined with the limited tax revenue the area is expected to generate, would be a financial drain on Burien, Seale said. The deficit could be $180 million deficit over 20 years if Burien annexed only the southern part of North Highline.

Although Burien claims it would receive a sales tax credit of almost $1.2 million a year for 10 years with full annexation of North Highline, that credit "is a temporary incentive by the state to get cities to incorporate or annex," Seale said. "It's not a guaranteed source of income."

Seale said North Highline has the third-highest number of major crimes in the county, including murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and arson.

"We would be annexing an area ... with a high crime rate and high maintenance costs," he said, and it is a "resource center for pornography - there are crack houses, meth houses in North Highline. We have enough problems of our own that we haven't dealt with."

Seale said the data he based his claim on "are the city's numbers. They're not my numbers. I'm just going through trying to clarify some things."

In contrast to Burien, the Seattle City Council has reported it would cost $5.6 million to annex all of North Highline, Seale said. And "there are other sleeping liabilities that haven't been introduced."

Seale also questioned claims of pro-annexation advocates that North Highline's real estate is an asset.

"People are acting like this is some sort of jewel in the crown," said Seale.

Yet, he noted, a "Strategic Assessment of Economic Development Potential in North Highline" conducted by Berk and Associates predicted commercial development in North Highline would not match the pace of Burien.

The political action committee was organized to oppose any annexation by Burien of all or part of the North Highline unincorporated area.

Burien Residents Against Annexation collected some 1,200 signatures in two weeks to petition the city council not to proceed with annexation. The petitions were submitted to the Burien council on July 17.

In addition to city residents, over 75 Burien business owners signed the petition, said James P. Sharkey, treasurer of the political action committee.

"We decided to talk to business owners because they represent the jewels in the crown of Burien's redevelopment," said Sharkey. "One business owner stated flatly that if Burien annexes, they would sell their home and move."

Action committee member John Oliger said over 90 percent of residents polled oppose annexation.

The political action committee was formed after the city council decided not to allow a citizens advisory vote on annexation, despite what opponents say were campaign promises to do so.

Sharkey said the political action committee decided the council needs to know what the people think on this issue, noting "several council members have expressed that if the public takes a stand against this issue, it will be hard to ignore."

In a news release, the group said "members have analyzed the budget figures provided by the city, and found serious errors seemingly designed to mislead. For instance, the capital expenses required in North Highline (infrastructure maintenance) that range from $2 million to $5 million annually, were omitted from the budget that annexation proposals are based on, and from the recent lead story in the Highline Times.

"There is no mention in that story or elsewhere that the budget includes temporary financial incentives (a sales tax rebate) that will expire in 10 years. Finally, the $2.2 million for police protection under the No Annexation option is for only two police officers; clearly this is a padded figure and makes a misleading impression that No Annexation is more costly than any annexation option."

The political action committee cites Burien's Planning Commission and the Economic Development Partnership as the sources for these conclusions.

Sharkey said Burien has deficit problems looming.

"According to figures presented at city council, in recent sessions, Burien faces a shortfall of $400,000 in 2008 and $1 million in 2009. Because of this, discussions are already underway for a levy lid lift on the ballot for November, 2006," he said.

"Annexation of any kind would impose additional deficits that could drive the city into bankruptcy,"he said.

Sara Loken can be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com