Press Release
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hansen Clarke
2004-11-16
(517) 373-7346

SENATOR CALLS FOR AN INDEPENDENTAUDIT AND PUBLIC REVIEW OF DETROITPUBLIC SCHOOLS’ FINANCES

Press Release
LANSING- State Senator Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit) today called for an independent audit and

public review of the Detroit Public Schools’ (DPS) current finances. Sen. Clarke stated that such

action would be a prudent precaution before the Michigan Legislature considers the school

district’s request for a multi-million dollar bond measure.

“The Legislature should not consider any bond measure unless we first know all of the facts and

have a reliable accounting of the school district’s true financial situation,” said Sen. Clarke. “We

have a responsibility to the district’s parents, students and school personnel, as well as the

taxpayers of Detroit, to make sure we know exactly what went wrong and how to fix it.”

Senator Clarke said that a new independent audit and citizen review are necessary because the

public lacks confidence in DPS’ willingness to be forthcoming with financial data. For example,

after months of denying that the school district would be in a deficit, DPS officials admitted only

on Monday that the district now has a $48-million deficit from last school year and will have to

cut another $150 million from this year’s budget.

“This matter can not be resolved without the public’s full faith and support,” said Sen. Clarke.

“We must rebuild public trust by making this process as transparent as possible and by making

sure the community is involved every step of the way.”

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