Mayor Paine’s Reckless Spending and Council’s Blind Loyalty Are Crushing Superior Taxpayers

Superior taxpayers are being pushed to the financial brink. Property tax bills are surging anywhere from 10% to 90% following skyrocketing reassessments, yet Mayor Jim Paine continues to expand city spending with little regard for the financial burden placed on residents. Worse still, a core group of city councilors — Lindsey Graskey, Ruth Ludwig, Garner Moffat, Nicholas Ledin, Tylor Elm, and the mayor’s wife, Councilor Jenny Van Sickle — have enabled this mess through their unwavering support of the mayor’s fiscal decisions.

Families Struggle as Spending Grows

Homeowners across Superior are now staring down shocking property tax hikes, with increases ranging from 10% to 90%. These sharp jumps come after reassessments pushed property values up an average of 60% citywide. For families already struggling with rising costs of living, these tax hikes are not just painful — they’re unsustainable.

Rather than offer relief or show fiscal restraint, Mayor Paine’s 2025 budget inflates city spending to $35.9 million. To make matters worse, the mayor is pushing for $10 million in new debt for vague “potential projects” without offering residents any clear plan or accountability.

Yet Mayor Paine’s reckless fiscal behavior doesn’t stop there. His own unpaid city utility bills wound up on his property taxes a glaring sign of carelessness that raises serious questions about his ability to manage the city’s finances responsibly.

Council Enables the Mayor’s Financial Mess

While residents struggle with rising taxes and growing frustration, Mayor Paine has found unwavering allies on the city council. City Councilors Lindsey Graskey, Ruth Ludwig, Garner Moffat, Nicholas Ledin, Tylor Elm, and Jenny Van Sickle — the mayor’s own wife — have rubber-stamped his spending priorities and borrowing proposals without holding him accountable for their consequences.

Their loyalty to the mayor comes at the direct expense of Superior taxpayers. Instead of standing up for residents being crushed by 10% to 90% tax hikes, this group has repeatedly chosen to support budgets and policies that increase spending and push the city further into debt.

Taxpayers Deserve Accountability

Superior families deserve leadership that prioritizes their needs, not leadership that expands government spending while ignoring the very real struggles of taxpayers. Mayor Paine’s financial missteps — combined with the blind support of councilors Graskey, Ludwig, Moffat, Ledin, Elm, and Van Sickle — have created a financial mess that homeowners now have to clean up.

It’s time for real accountability. City leaders must rein in spending, reject unnecessary borrowing, and make taxpayers their top priority.

Mayor and Councilors Property Taxes 

Mayor Paine 2024 Taxes & 2023 Taxes : $293.29 or 14.91% Increase

Tylor Elms 2024 Taxes & 2023 Taxes : $725.45 or 44.27% Increase 

Garner Moffat 2024 Taxes & 2023 Taxes : $991.99 or 88.59% Increase

Nicholas Ledin 2024 Taxes & 2023 Taxes : $252.53 or 14.03% Increase

Lindsey Graskey No Property Tax Records Located

Jenny Van Sickle No Property Tax Records Located

Ruth Ludwig No Property Tax Records Located

Sourced : Douglas County Web Portal

Sources 

NorthernNews