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Village manager outlines draft 2026 budget communication plan, board raises timeline and capacity questions
Summary
Village Manager Ewald presented a draft communications schedule intended to inform public and partner engagement on the 2026 budget, including outreach on a new streetlight charge and other alternative revenue topics; trustees asked for clarity on timing, staff capacity and opportunities to engage the school board and realtors.
Village Manager Ewald presented a draft 2026 budget communication plan to the Village Board on March 3, describing scheduled touchpoints to engage residents, partner bodies and staff before the formal budget process.
The draft proposes twice-yearly presentations to the school board and business improvement district, three public "Let's Talk" outreach sessions (two in-person or virtual and one focused on the streetlight charge), presentations to village staff by department, and targeted outreach such as a presence at the Shorewood Farmers Market. The plan is intentionally labeled "fluid," Ewald said, and would be updated monthly in the village manager's memo so trustees and staff can track communication milestones.
Trustees asked for clarification on several items. Multiple trustees pressed for specifics about the streetlight charge implementation schedule and when staff will finalize a per-linear-foot price, and Ewald said the board previously provided direction on linear-foot methodology but staff will return with finalized parcel data and any remaining ordinance details before implementation. Several trustees also raised concerns about staff capacity to support an expanded outreach schedule and asked whether some items could be consolidated or require additional resources.
Ewald and Assistant Manager Anderson said the plan aims both to share information and to listen to partner organizations and residents. Ewald said she has begun outreach to the Realtors Association and that staff intends to prepare communication materials in multiple formats, including the village manager’s memo and the village website. Trustees suggested additional targeted engagement and asked staff to coordinate timing with related actions such as the parking meter study and possible capital policy updates.
There was no formal vote on the communication plan; staff said the draft will be used as a working calendar going into the budget cycle and will be updated following direction from the Budget & Finance Committee and the Village Board.
