Dearest reader,
Lady B has opened a new ledger.
This time, we are heading north to Cheboygan Area Schools. 🪶
And Step One begins where it always does: ten years, the same MDE dataset, and a little inflation math.
From 2014–15 to 2024–25, Cheboygan lost 326 pupils.
That is an enrollment decline of 18.17%.
Now let us follow the money.
On a per-pupil basis:
🪶 All-sources revenue: $9,565 → $15,080
+57.66% nominal | +16.07% after inflation
🪶 Total instruction: $6,406 → $9,813
+53.18% nominal | +12.78% after inflation
🪶 Instructional support: $396 → $1,066
+169.19% nominal | +98.18% after inflation
🪶 Business & administration: $1,125 → $1,791
+59.20% nominal | +17.20% after inflation
🪶 Operations & maintenance: $857 → $1,323
+54.38% nominal | +13.65% after inflation
And then we arrive at the teachers.
Average teacher salary increased from $63,796 to $69,914.
On paper, that is an increase of 9.59%.
But ten years happened between those two numbers.
After adjusting for the 35.831185% cumulative increase in CPI-U, the change in average teacher salary is:
−19.32%.
That deserves a second look.
While several major spending categories increased even after inflation, average teacher salary did not keep pace with inflation over the same ten-year period.
And remember: Lady B isn't deciding whether any particular expenditure is good or bad.
We are simply opening the ledger and asking where the money went.
Step One gives us the money.
Step Two?
That is where we follow the people. 👀🪶
With receipts and respect.
#LadyBudgetdown #CheboyganAreaSchools #Cheboygan #MichiganSchools #SchoolFinance #TeacherPay #PublicEducation #EducationSpending #Transparency #Accountability #FollowTheMoney #WithReceiptsAndRespect
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