4:19 PM: Just spotted on the City Council’s Introduction/Referral Calendar – a proposal to ask White Center and the rest of unincorporated North Highline to vote on annexation to the City of Seattle. Documents accompanying the resolution say that it’s not likely the vote could be held before 2016, because of the Boundary Review Board process that would have to lead up to it. No date set yet for this to come before the council. The most recent attempt to annex the area was by Burien, rejected by voters in the potential annexation area two years ago. We’re seeking reaction and more information about the new Seattle proposal – more to come.
4:38 PM UPDATE: The resolution traces back to a discussion in the council’s Education/Governance Committee earlier this week, as detailed in this memo. It is time-sensitive – unless Seattle takes a step like this before the end of the year, the state tax credit that’s been in place several years as an annexation incentive will expire. That tax credit, offering $5 million a year for a decade, wouldn’t be enough to cover projected costs of bringing the annexation area into the city, so there’s talk of asking the Legislature for more – that was mentioned by Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon at a 34th District Democrats’ meeting earlier this fall. More to come …
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