‘Go’ on North Highline annexation soon?

A decision by the Growth Management Hearings Board on whether Burien or Seattle will get a green light to annex the North Highline unincorporated area is expected in late July.

In the meantime, an economic model has been created to help Burien prepare for the fiscal impacts if the city proceeds with annexation.

The model, created by Berk and Associates, which was retained by Burien last year to assist in the planning process, was presented to the city council recently.

"This is probably the most analytical work we've ever had to face," said Mayor Joan McGilton. "I don't think any of us have been exposed to this level of modeling before."

The economic model was described by Brett Scheckler, senior project manager with Berk and Associates, as extremely flexible so it can accommodate different variables and situations, and prepare the city for the long-term effects of annexation.

With a variety of fiscal scenarios put into the model, the city gets a solid number for increased costs associated with North Highline annexation.

"Our goal is for you to have an idea of how the model works," Scheckler told council members. "Then you can have a foundation for understanding so that you can use it for many years to come."

He emphasized that the "model will help the city not exceed its revenue input should the North Highline area become a part of Burien."

Due to a lack of time at that meeting, the council requested that Schekler return to a subsequent meeting to provide more explanation of the economic model.

The model focuses on three main scenarios: Burien annexing North Highline, Seattle annexing the area, and the area remaining unincorporated.

If Burien does annex North Highline, then the framework of the model will help project how many additional staffers would need to be hired to perform services to run the larger city effectively.

It can also be used to plan for the impact of large businesses coming into the area and the residential implications of the growth.

With an expansion of this size, it could be expected that large corporations would begin looking into the area for business, Scheckler said.

"We tried to distinguish between the regional and local sales of businesses, which would, in turn, generate tax revenue."

Berk and Associates looked at the history and past trends in Burien to help form the model and make predictions.

"Who could have predicted 10 years ago that we'd have a future like we're looking at now," Councilwoman Sally Nelson observed. "This is a very dynamic and interesting model and I appreciate the complexity of it."