Finance Articles
Shorewood City Council Never Says “NO” to spending YOUR MONEY
In 4 short years since 2022 Shorewood’s Administrative budget has increase $314,670 or 35.19% to a whopping $1,208,620 in 2025.
The city’s debt has more than tripled in the last 7 years.
Continuing on this spending spree will drive long-term residents and retirees out of the city.
3–minute $1.1 Million Cost Savings Challenge to Shorewood Council
Upon hearing resident Barry Brown’s 3 minute speech during the city council meeting of August 25, 2025 we requested Mr. Brown to provide his documentation to SCA for a follow-up story.
Here’s what you need to know, in his words:
Resident Pressure: Shorewood Reviews Engineering Options
Responding to resident pressure, the Shorewood council is considering options for a new engineering service model.
The contract for the current provider, Bolton & Menk expires in December 2025.
Shorewood’s Spending Spree – $38.2 Million and Growing!
In a little more than 3-1/2 years, the Shorewood City Council and city staff have spent $38.2MM which additionally burdened residents with $23MM in bonding debt.
Another $20.5MM in bonding debt is planned in the upcoming years.
That’s more than $14,000 per household in debt repayments alone.
Shorewood’s $7M budget
Every penny spent, whether on paper clips or a snow plow, comes from your fees and taxes. The budget is the city’s financial plan for the anticipated expenses over the next fiscal year.
As a taxpayer, your participation in the budget process can influence the outcome.
$7Million: Shorewood Spends BIG on Engineering Firm Bolton & Menk
Between January 2020 and July 2024 Bolton & Menk billed the City of Shorewood $6,968,361. That’s an average $126,697/mo. or $1,520,364 per year!
The amount of money billed by Bolton & Menk for engineering services in one single year is so staggering that the city could double the number of Public Works employees and still have money to hire 3-4 full time engineers.
Why did the City Council allow this to happen? You decide!
