DEAREST READER, THERE IS A BUSINESS AROUND PUBLIC EDUCATION.
This morning, Lady B unexpectedly found herself mentioned on the Michigan School Business Officials listserv. So naturally, she followed the breadcrumb.
MSBO describes itself as Michigan's only statewide association devoted to "school business."
Its 2024-25 annual report lists 4,496 members, including 762 associate members, and says its members either work in school business management or provide services to the school industry.
And this is not a tiny organization.
In 2024-25, MSBO reported:
$5.78 MILLION in revenue
$10.74 MILLION in assets
$667,000 in dues
$2.5 MILLION from workshops and conferences
$2.15 MILLION from products and services
Then Lady B looked at who surrounds this organization.
Architects.
Construction companies.
Financial advisers.
Banks.
Law firms.
Accounting firms.
Insurance companies.
Technology companies.
Facilities companies.
And many of the same types of companies taxpayers repeatedly encounter when districts pursue bonds, millages, construction projects and major capital spending.
MSBO's own 2026 conference boasts the largest trade show of educational products and services in Michigan, with more than 450 companies exhibiting.
Public education is not a business. But there is unquestionably an enormous business built around public education.
And much of the money flowing through that ecosystem begins in the same place:
With taxpayers.
That doesn't make these companies or organizations improper.
But perhaps taxpayers should start paying considerably more attention to who is making money from public education, who is sitting at the same tables, and where the money ultimately goes.
Lady B certainly will.
With receipts and respect. 🪶
#LadyBudgetdown #WithReceiptsAndRespect #FollowTheMoney #PublicEducation #MichiganSchools #TaxpayerDollars #SchoolFinance #MSBO #TransparencyMatters #PublicAccountability