Shorewood is headed for a tsunami of debt. Based on city council’s approval of the 2026 Long-Term Financial Management and Capital Improvement Plans the city is continuing an unprecedented spending spree never seen before. This spending spree began in 2020 when engineering firm Bolton & Menk replaced WSB and convinced city council to quadruple the city’s debt in 4 short years. Now, the city plans to issue another $20.1M in bonds, furthering our city’s debt to $34.5M by 2031.
This tsunami of debt is backed by the enormous 117% ($8.82 million) increases in taxes in the next 10 years – more than doubling your taxes by 2035. That’s more than 8.1% increase compounded year-over-year for the next 10 years. Compare that to your own cost of living increase!
(Source: Long-Term Financial Management Plan – Northland Securities, Inc.) |
Opinion: Greg Larson, resident “Shorewood is almost exclusively residential without complex transportation or infrastructure needs, few commercial areas, no dams, no airports, really nothing that justifies spending $7 million on outside engineering expertise”. “In fact, some of the recent “engineering” projects such as Birch Bluff, Strawberry Lane and the ridiculously overdesigned Smithtown Ponds, all pushed by the consultants, approved by a clueless council majority but strongly opposed by the neighborhoods, cost taxpayers millions more than necessary”. |
Bolton & Menk appears to follow the approach whereby everything has a pre-determined expiration date even if it’s still safe and functional. Engineers habitually work with product half-life calculations whereby a product may be in perfect working order for many more years but out of an abundance of caution place fear into decision-makers, like city council members if they don’t follow recommendations. This fear based mentality extends to many infrastructure projects like roads, water & sewers, park equipment, buildings and even HVAC systems – suggesting, “If we don’t replace it now it will cost more in the future.”
Our city council members must continue to implement tighter financial controls, question consultant recommendations and show greater financial compassion for residents – especially long-term residents who have funded this city for decades.
Additional Reading:
Shorewood Resident Calls for Fiscal Sanity
SCA Finance Articles
Let city leaders know what you think.
- Best option: attend and /or speak up at City Council meetings and get it on the public record.
- Contact City Council Members
Dustin Maddy (612) 293-6727 dmaddy@shorewoodmn.gov
Jennifer Labadie (952) 836-8719 jlabadie@shorewoodmn.gov
Michelle DiGruttolo (517) 422-9528 mdigruttolo@shorewoodmn.gov
Guy Sanschagrin (952) 217-1289 gsanschagrin@shorewoodmn.gov
Nat Gorham (617) 780-7771 ngorham@shorewoodmn.gov
