The Budget Is “Balanced”—If You Ignore the Math
Back in 2022, the City of Superior passed a budget with a clear financial vision: by 2025, they projected a lean and reasonable $33.4 million in expenditures.
Fast forward to 2025: the adopted budget now sits at $35.88 million — and that number is still climbing.
By 2029? The city is projecting a $39.2 million budget and a $2 million shortfall to go with it. Which raises an obvious question:
How do you grow a $30 million budget into a $40 million one… in a shrinking city?
"responsible financial planning have all positioned our city for continued success."
Elm & Van Sickle: The Budget Hawks Who Keep Missing
Enter Tylor Elm and Jennifer Van Sickle — two Superior City Council members who love to talk about fiscal responsibility almost as much as they love to miss budget projections by millions.
They were part of the team that adopted that 2022 budget and helped shape the trajectory that got us here. Now, as the budget balloons and deficits loom, they’re doubling down on the claim that this is all part of some master plan.
It’s fiscal leadership, they say.
It’s forward-thinking, they say.
It’s math — and we’re supposed to believe it.
Declining City, Rising Budget – Something Doesn’t Add Up
Here’s the kicker: while the city’s budget has grown by more than 30% in just a few years, Superior’s population has declined.
The school district has lost over 1,000 students since 2019. That’s not just an education statistic — it’s a warning sign about the long-term health of the community.
And yet, the budget keeps growing. More money, fewer people, and now a projected deficit on the horizon. At this rate, we’ll be spending $50 million to manage empty sidewalks and shuttered schools.
Where Did the Money Go? Ask the Buzzwords
So far, no one has offered a detailed explanation of how or why the city overshot its 2025 projections by $2.5 million.
Instead, we get phrases like:
“Budget flexibility”
“Strategic reinvestment”
“Forward-looking fiscal tools”
Which is a fancy way of saying: We blew past our own numbers, but trust us — this is fine.
Elm and Van Sickle continue to promote themselves as the budget adults in the room. But if this is adulting, maybe we need to bring the kids in to fix it.
The 2029 Cliff: Spoiler Alert, It’s a $2 Million Drop
According to the city’s own 2025 adopted budget, things aren’t getting better.
By 2029, they’re already forecasting a $2 million shortfall, even as they plan to spend $39.2 million that year.
Let’s be clear: you don’t “project” a shortfall unless you know your current spending is unsustainable. And yet, Elm and Van Sickle are pressing ahead, as if fiscal cliffs are just scenic overlooks.
"Van Sickle said they were all achieved while improving the city's financial stability."
Voters Are Watching — And Doing the Math Themselves
Both Tylor Elm and Jennifer Van Sickle are up for reelection. Their campaign messaging is heavy on financial stewardship, efficient government, and responsible budgeting.
But here’s what voters see:
A $2.5 million increase over 2025 projections
A $2 million deficit on the 2029 horizon
A city that’s shrinking, not growing
And two council members still insisting they’re the fiscally sound option
That’s not a platform — it’s a punchline.
For the Busy, Broke, and Baffled
2022: City projects 2025 budget at $33.4M
2025: Actual budget is $35.88M — and rising
2029: Projected budget is $39.2M with a $2M shortfall
Meanwhile: Population and school enrollment are falling
Elm & Van Sickle: Running on “fiscal responsibility”
Coming Soon: Even More Responsibility, With Fewer Results?
This is the part where most officials would take a step back, reevaluate, maybe even issue a statement of accountability.
Instead, Elm and Van Sickle are asking for two more years. Two more years to grow the budget, shrink the reserves, and hand out another batch of financial forecasts we’ll all regret reading later.
So as you stroll past their campaign signs that say:
“Van Sickle 2025: A Proven Record of Leadership”
“Elm for Council: Trust, Transparency, and Results”
Just remember — some records aren’t worth repeating.
Sources : Telegram
