Dearest reader,
Step 4 looks a little different in Port Huron.
Lady B could not locate a district check register for the usual legal, consulting and advertising review.
But Port Huron Area School District does publish something else:
Its association dues and memberships.
So that's where we followed the money.
For 2024-25, the district reports:
MASSP: $9,680.00
MASB: $9,522.87
MASA: $2,491.80
MEMSPA: $2,316.00
MSBO: $1,079.00
MSBOA: $802.45
MSVMA: $385.00
Those education-related associations total $26,277.12.
Then there are other organizations and memberships, including the Future of Learning Council, HPS, Government Finance Officers Association, Macomb/St. Clair School Business Officials and several smaller memberships.
Total: $7,185.00.
Middle Cities Risk Management Trust:
$10,500.00
School Nutrition Association:
$3,200.00
Put everything together and Port Huron reports:
$47,762.12
in district-paid association dues and memberships for 2024-25.
The three largest individual payments were:
Middle Cities Risk Management Trust: $10,500.00
MASSP: $9,680.00
MASB: $9,522.87
Together, those three account for $29,702.87 — about 62% of the entire disclosed total.
Now, paying dues doesn't automatically make an expenditure unnecessary.
School districts belong to professional organizations for training, advocacy, risk management, networking, professional development and other services.
But taxpayers should still be able to see where those dollars go.
And in Port Huron, they can.
Lady B will always give credit for that.
No check register this time.
But there was still a ledger to follow.
With receipts and respect.
#LadyBudgetdown #PortHuron #PortHuronAreaSchools #PHASD #MichiganSchools #PublicEducation #SchoolFinance #AssociationDues #SchoolSpending #SchoolTransparency #PublicRecords #TaxpayerDollars #FollowTheMoney #WithReceiptsAndRespect