Shorewood Officials Mulling Community Survey Questions

SHOREWOOD, WI -- As village officials prepare the 2019 community survey, officials are weighing adding new questions this year, including whether residents would support a new wheel tax, whether they would support a utility fee for trash collection and what ideas they might have to improve the experience for visitors at Atwater Beach.

According to Village of Shorewood meeting documents, the village's Strategic Initiatives Committee is being asked to review proposed question and proposed suggested changes. The Village Board will consider the community survey during their March 4, 2019 meeting.

When the survey is released, answers to questions will help direct Village officials as they establish policies for the type and level of services to be provided.

Here are just a few of the proposed question additions that officials are considering:

Under Taxes:

Would you support the Village of Shorewood implementing a $20 per vehicle
wheel tax as an alternative revenue source in order to lower the need for municipal
borrowing and property taxes for local road improvements?

Currently, resident homeowners pay for refuse and other waste collections
services through the Village’s property taxes. An alternative to this approach would be
to create a refuse collections utility and pay for those services as a part of the Village’s
quarterly utility bills. The benefit of this approach would be that each homeowner
would pay a base fee, with an opportunity to develop a system where homeowners only
pay for the services they use, similar to water and sewer services. Would you support
the creation of a refuse collections utility for this purpose?

Under Shared Services:

The Parks Commission is brainstorming ways that could enhance the experience
for beach visitors at Atwater Beach. Would you be in favor of adding additional
amenities available for rent or purchase at Atwater Beach? If yes, please identify the
amenities you would be in favor of adding?

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee have been receiving community
feedback over the past few years about improving the safety for pedestrians and
bicyclists in Shorewood. Understanding there are limited resources available to fund pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements, how would you prioritize the following
improvements?

Under Communication and Other Community Initiatives Questions:

Do you support creating a Village Budget and Finance Committee with
membership that includes both elected Village officials and residents to meet at least
quarterly and provide recommendations to the Village Board on budgetary issues?

Patch File Photo by Scott Anderson