Dearest reader,
Lady Budgetdown has developed a rather complicated relationship with the word "misinformation."
Mostly because it is very easy to use. And it gets thrown around consistently, without ever providing what actually is the misinformation. There is a reason for that. Because it's NOT misinformation. It's just factual information that doesn't fit a defined narrative.
And, it is considerably harder to prove.
So today dear reader, we need to talk about Midland Public Schools' ConNEXTion team.
According to a letter published September 2 in the Midland Daily News by a member of that team, members recently learned about school funding, bonds and millages from Midland Public Schools MPS Associate Superintendent of Finance, Facilities & Operations Anna Wamack.
Then, apparently, there was homework.
His words, not mine.
"The ConNEXTion team's homework is to listen for any examples of misinformation about school funding in the community and to raise awareness of MPS's transparency website."
The author then pointed to an August 26 letter from a Midland County taxpayer as an example.
And this is where Lady Budgetdown's spectacles slid rather dramatically down her nose.
Because that earlier letter examined Midland Public Schools' debt millage numbers, acknowledged that collecting additional money was legal, and then asked questions about why the district chose to collect more than the estimated amount needed for that year's bonded debt payments.
Questions.
Not declarations of criminal conduct.
Not accusations that money disappeared.
Questions about public money based upon public records.
The ConNEXTion member disagreed and offered additional context about maintaining reserves for delinquent taxes, changes in taxable value and other potential revenue disruptions.
Wonderful.
That is precisely what public discussion is supposed to look like.
Someone examines a government record and asks a question. Someone else provides additional information. The public gets to examine both.
But somewhere along the way, we apparently crossed from "answering a taxpayer's question" into "correcting misinformation."
And Lady Budgetdown has a question of her own:
Who decides what constitutes misinformation?
The ConNEXTion team is described as an MPS-sponsored group of parents, guardians, students, staff, business partners and community members serving as a communication link between the district and community.
Those members may be intelligent, thoughtful and genuinely interested in their schools.
But receiving instruction about school funding, bonds and millages from a district administrator does not suddenly make someone an expert in Michigan school finance.
Frankly, Your Lady spends an unreasonable number of hours wandering through audits, budgets, state reports, millage documents, compensation reports and enough spreadsheets to qualify as a minor cry for help.
And I still check.
And double-check.
And occasionally discover another rabbit hole hiding underneath the first rabbit hole.
School finance is complicated.
So before community volunteers are tasked with listening for "misinformation," I think taxpayers are entitled to know something rather important:
What qualifies as misinformation?
Who makes that determination?
What training did ConNEXTion members receive?
What materials were provided?
Are members given district talking points or guidance for responding?
And perhaps most importantly:
How are they taught to distinguish an objectively false statement from a disagreement, an incomplete interpretation, criticism of a district decision, or simply a taxpayer asking an uncomfortable question?
Because those are not the same thing.
There is another piece of context worth keeping on the ledger.
Midland Public Schools has a 1.5-mill, 10-year sinking fund proposal going before voters this November.
That makes open public discussion about school finances particularly important right now.
Lady Budgetdown has absolutely no objection to Midland Public Schools correcting an objectively false statement.
In fact, please do.
Bring the receipt.
Show the calculation.
Explain the missing context.
That is transparency.
But labeling questions or competing interpretations of public financial records "misinformation" is something entirely different.
Government transparency cannot mean:
"Ask questions, but only until we decide your question is misinformation."
The ledger belongs to the public, too.
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown 🪶
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