White Center annexation vote put on hold by Seattle

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and the City Council have decided to delay an annexation of the White Center area until at least 2011 because paying for services there would be so expensive.

Annexing the area, part of the North Highline annexation area, could cost Seattle $12.6 million a year more than it would generate in new taxes, plus $8.7 million in one-time costs, according to a preliminary analysis by the city Budget Office. The area has about 20,000 residents.

With the city facing a $50 million shortfall in its general fund, the mayor decided to withdraw his earlier recommendation and campaign promise that residents of that area vote this fall on whether they want to join Seattle.

"Unfortunately, this is coming at a time when the city's financial circumstances are really strained," said Beth Goldberg, the acting director of the Budget Office.

Goldberg presented her analysis Friday to the council's Regional Development and Sustainability Committee. Although an annexation of the White Center area has been discussed for more than a year, council members said Goldberg's presentation was the first real cost estimate they had seen.

The presentation Friday included a look at crime statistics in the annexation area. They showed crime rates much higher than in other, comparable neighborhoods in Seattle. For example, while there were three to five rapes reported in similar Seattle neighborhoods in 2009, the North Highline area saw 18, according to Deputy Seattle Police Chief Clark Kimerer.

There were 60 to 65 burglaries and property crimes in comparable Seattle neighborhoods, and 241 in the annexation area; 15 to 30 vehicle thefts were reported in comparable neighborhoods, and 156 were reported in the annexation area.

The council will have to decide on a 2011 annexation ballot measure by next March. Goldberg said she would present a more thorough financial analysis early next year.

Voters in the southern part of the North Highline community voted in August to join Burien.

Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246 or eheffter@seattletimes.com