A hearing near the end of the month will set in motion decisions to determine whether Seattle will annex the first of two unincorporated neighborhoods south of downtown. Around 100 people live in the section along the Duwamish River, according to KING 5, and they could end up voting late this year or in 2016 on whether to be annexed into Seattle. The North Highline neighborhood, including White Center, is a much bigger, with a population of about 20,000. Burien tried to annex the latter a few years ago, but residents voted that down. A vote there might not happen until 2018.
As it stands now, the City of Seattle could get a total of $5 million in sales tax rebates from the state if the annexations are approved, but it's hoping for $8 million. Even then, an official tells KING that the city would spend more in services than it receives in new taxes.
