Seattle budget: Rob Saka proposes $14 million for traffic safety, restores pothole funding

Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka is proposing $14 million for neighborhood traffic safety projects and restoring $1.3 million in pothole repair funding as the Seattle City Council reviews Mayor Katie Wilson’s proposed $9.1 billion budget for 2027-2028.

Saka, who represents District 1 in West Seattle and South Seattle, announced a package of 20 budget amendments that would restore selected funding cuts and add neighborhood projects focused on street safety, business districts, public spaces and homelessness.

The proposals come as Wilson seeks to close Seattle’s structural budget deficit through nearly $50 million in annual General Fund spending reductions and the elimination of 128 full-time positions, including 15 currently filled jobs.

Saka said his amendments respond to community feedback and would direct funding toward practical neighborhood improvements.

“A tight budget should sharpen our priorities, not weaken our commitment to neighborhoods,” Saka said in a statement. “This package turns community requests into action by investing in safer public spaces, stronger business districts, expanded community programming, and a real path toward a permanent veterans shelter in West Seattle. These are practical, community-driven additions to the mayor’s proposal, and I look forward to working with my council colleagues to deliver concrete results.”

$14 million for traffic safety, $1.3 million for potholes

Saka’s package would restore the District Project Fund, a $14 million investment spread over two years that would give each of Seattle’s seven council districts equal funding for neighborhood-level street safety improvements.

He also wants to restore $1.3 million in pothole repair funding, reversing a 29% budget reduction. Saka said the cut could affect the city’s ability to meet its commitment to respond within 72 hours of a reported pothole.

Other proposed amendments include $500,000 for cleanup and improvements in West Seattle business districts, including The Junctions, and $235,000 for a managed mural wall in Delridge intended to provide a legal space for local artists and youth workshops.

The package also includes funding for traffic cameras at Alki, expanded recreation programming in Alki and South Park, and predevelopment work for a permanent veterans shelter and services campus in West Seattle.

The announcement did not specify the full cost of all 20 amendments or identify funding sources for every proposal.

Budget debate over neighborhood priorities

Wilson’s proposed budget prioritizes shelter and homelessness response, public safety, affordable housing, food access, and services for vulnerable residents while seeking to address a projected $175 million General Fund deficit.

Her plan includes $183 million in ongoing homelessness investments, including $37 million to add nearly 1,000 shelter beds by the end of 2027. It also budgets for 1,250 sworn Seattle police positions in each year of the biennium.

Saka’s amendments would add or restore funding for specific neighborhood projects. The city council will need to consider their costs and funding sources as it decides which changes to make to the mayor’s proposal.

The council’s budget briefings are scheduled to begin Oct. 27, with a public hearing set for Nov. 5. The council is expected to adopt the final budget by early December.

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