Dearest reader,
Sometimes the best breadcrumbs come from readers who decide to do a little digging themselves. ❤️
And this one is a BIG one!
Lady B has just added a NEW statewide database: MICHIGAN SCHOOL DISTRICT DEBT!
Thanks to one incredible reader who took the initiative to submit a FOIA request to the State of Michigan, I now have debt information for 535 Michigan school districts, all in one searchable database!
And let me tell you, this information is GOLD. 👀
You can now search your school district and see:
📌 Outstanding school bond debt
📌 State school loan balances
📌 Total reported debt
📌 A breakdown of the different debt categories
These figures are reported as of December 31, 2025.
Why does this matter?
Because when districts ask taxpayers to approve another bond, shouldn't taxpayers know how much debt is already on the books?
Now you have another piece of the financial puzzle, without having to file your own FOIA or dig through piles of documents.
And to the reader who went out of their way to obtain this information for Lady B, THANK YOU. Truly. This is exactly what happens when everyday people work together to make public information more accessible.
You'll find the new database under the "Databases" menu on the Lady Budgetdown site. Select "School District Debt."
Another database. Another set of receipts. And another reason I love what this little community is building.
With receipts and respect,
Lady B
#LadyBudgetdown #MichiganSchools #SchoolDistrictDebt #SchoolBonds #TaxpayerTransparency #PublicRecords #FollowTheMoney #WithReceiptsAndRespect