Seattle mayor wants fall vote on North Highline annexation

White Center residents may vote this fall on annexing to Seattle.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn pledged during his recent election campaign to allow voters in the northern portion of North Highline to vote on whether they want to join his city.

The voters in the southern part of unincorporated North Highline decided in August to join Burien. The area will formally beome part of Burien on April 1.

Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin is quoted as saying lawmakwers most likely will agree to putting the annexation measure on the fall ballot. In earlier attempts, the Seattle council has rejected annexation because of worries over paying for services in the low-income area.

The state Legislature has approved funds that would provide a part of the state sales tax collected in the area to an annexing city to help pay for services.

Any attempt by Seattle to annex the unincorporated area is likely to meet strong opposition from those in Burien and North Highline that favor the northern portion joining the southern portion in the future as part of Burien. Several Burien City Council members have voiced their desire to annex the rest of North Highline at some point.