Shorewood’s Top-Heavy City Operations

Have you ever wondered how Shorewood’s expenses and revenue compares to other equivalent sized cities? So did we. We researched 5 other comparable sized Minnesota cities by households and population and summarized the findings.

A Few ‘Loud’ Voices

Concerns about Flock license plate reading cameras’ targeting capabilities and data use are mounting. Flock uses license-plate–reading cameras and AI at intersections in Excelsior, Greenwood and Shorewood to collect data on every passing vehicle. This includes your vehicle, or your teen’s vehicle.

City Council Fails To Act on State Law

Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave law provides paid leave for medical needs or family care funded by an employee/employer payroll tax. On December 8, Council members learned that a staff-run benefits committee voted not to tax themselves, so the .88% PFML tax will be paid 100% by taxpayers.

Three Things to Start 2026

- Ride in a Snow Plow! - January is Planting Time - Superior, Our Inland Sea

Three Things

Here are three new, quick and informative articles for readers this week. • Keeping Flock on the Radar • 14 Lake Area Mayors Consider a Lobbyist • Talking Turkey

Broadband Service: A Tangle of Options

The long-awaited broadband has come to town. In its wake is a tangle of questions, confusing options and contracts, who has what service, at what cost, when and for how long.

$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.