Help Save $55k Annually – Go Paperless!

It’s no surprise that eliminating paper, envelopes, printing, postage and resource time will reduce costs and provide funds for more useful projects. The same is true for Shorewood and you can help save the city at least $55k/year in taxpayer money by going paperless.

$4.0 Million! Give Us A Break Already

Upon hearing resident Barry Brown’s speech during the city council meeting of March 23, 2026 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:

Shorewood Resident Calls for Fiscal Sanity

Long time Shorewood resident Greg Larson raises concerns about the significant amount of money Shorewood spends for engineering consultants. This topic will be discussed at a council work session at 6:00 on Monday, Mar. 23, at Shorewood City Hall.

Here We Go Again! Another $7.50M Engineering Cost

Based on Shorewood’s 2025 Long Range Financial Plan and 10 Year Capital Improvement Plan , over the next 6 years, the estimated charges from engineering firm Bolton & Menk are projected to total $7.5M. Or, Shorewood could hire four internal staff engineers and save taxpayers $600k per year.

How Inflating Project Costs and Budgets Impacts Your Taxes

Millions! Higher than necessary city taxes, unspent budget dollars, egregious reserves and overestimating projects are all contributors to higher compounding taxes each year. How?

$540k City Tax You Likely Don’t Know About

If you receive a gas bill from CenterPoint Energy, or electric bill from Xcel Energy you may not know the City of Shorewood has covertly been taking money from you each month for years to increase their revenue.

Shorewood’s Consulting Extravagances

Are consulting services worth the time and money when 80%-90% of the recommendations are never implemented and administration, council members and even mayors rotate out every few years? Cities waste so much money on elaborate consulting ideas that are never implemented. This needs to stop.

$45.9M Capital Expenses Projected in Shorewood

Street reconstruction, water projects, new trucks, skid-steers, mowers and park equipment are a few items that the city wants residents of Shorewood to believe are in desperate need of replacement. The city is planning to spend $45.9M in Capital Expenditures (CapEx) over the next 10 years.

Essential Reading:118% Tax Increase

Shorewood resident Barry Brown has analyzed the Long Range Financial Plan (2026 – 2035) for Shorewood. It shows the Tax Levy skyrocketing from $7.5M in 2025 to $16.4M in 2035 – a 118% increase. Also, the city plans to increase its bond debt by another $21.6M between 2026 and 2031.

Shorewood “Reserve Funds” Scheme to Grab Your Tax Dollars

Read and watch Barry Brown’s presentation to the Shorewood council regarding his analysis, and the impact to Shorewood taxpayers, of the city’s growing Reserve Funds.

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.

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 Citizen Advocates

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