One of the topics under discussion in the current White Rock byelection, set for Sept. 12, is whether the City of White Rock should consider rejoining Surrey.

The city broke away in 1957, after an on-and-off incorporation drive which lasted for more than a dozen years. The new City of White Rock was formed from the existing boundary of Surrey's Ward 7, as councillors were elected in wards at the time.

In 1957, White Rock was growing quite rapidly, as it had become a popular destination for retirees. Many homes were built in the uptown area farther away from the beach, areas which in earlier years had been very lightly settled.

It had a sewer plant, located on Kent Street, and was able to handle additional growth. The surrounding areas of South Surrey, by contrast, were mostly bush and small farms. The area now occupied by Semiahmoo Shopping Centre was a forest, and there were very few businesses north of 16 Avenue on 152 Street.

White Rock was the centre of the Semiahmoo Peninsula for commerce and that continued for another couple of decades. But gradually, the rural areas in South Surrey expanded — first with homes, and then with commercial centres. There is now far more commercial space in South Surrey than there is in White Rock, and most White Rock residents do a significant amount of their shopping in Surrey.

That is White Rock's great dilemma. While it is a viable entity, its viability depends on residential property taxation. It has a limited business community, no industry and virtually no chance of gaining a larger commercial and industrial tax base.

It is a charming city and having its own local government ensures that residents pay close attention to civic matters. Voter turnout is far higher than it is in Surrey, and the byelection itself is a direct result of keen interest in civic politics and a court challenge of the results last November.

It is doubtful if most White Rock residents would want to rejoin Surrey. The issues that they are passionate about would get swallowed up in the vast civic furnace and have to compete with many other issues from other parts of Surrey for attention.

The broader tax base would make it easier to pay for upgrades in White Rock, and there would be some administrative and cost savings from amalgamating the two cities.

Many Surrey residents feel that city hall doesn't listen to them very well. White Rock residents, who are used to having a very responsive city hall, would get very frustrated with that type of governmental apathy.

While White Rock politics has been fractious in the past decade, it hasn't always been that way. For most of the city's history, there have been few major divisions on council. Differences were primarily over specific issues, and most councillors over the years worked well as part of the team.

Large governmental units have the advantage of being more economical on a per taxpayer basis, but they aren't always very responsive and accountable to citizens, particularly on smaller issues.

Ultimately, any discussion of amalgamation with Surrey must involve individual citizens of both cities. While it is doubtful that many Surrey residents would oppose the idea, it's unlikely that many White Rock residents would back it. Thus, while the topic is a valid one, it isn't likely to go anywhere — unless the provincial government, which created White Rock in the first place, thanks to a crafty private member's bill, decides that it will force the amalgamation of cities. That doesn't seem to be very high on its list at present.