Hello there ! I am the President of a local PTA unit and was wondering if anyone knows if a local PTA's budget and other important information can be legally Concealed from the parents ? We started out this year being very informative. We explained how the Dues were divided and how only 25 cents stays at the local level, "wanted" the budget published, etc. etc. Its not working out as we had planned.

You should check your bylaws, but in my state, the bylaws require that the budget be approved by a vote of the general membership, that the treasurer present a detailed financial report at every PTA meeting, and that the treasurer present the final year end audit results to the general membership. In addition, if you are large enough to be filing a Federal tax return, that tax return must be open for public inspection--which means it has to be open not only to your members, but to anyone who wants to see it.

So, it's unlikely that what you are proposing is "legal."

As a member, a person has rights to see the budget, see the bylaws, see any ducument pertaining to the rights of members (incorporation documents etc.) and minutes of any general meeetings (and executive minutes if voted on by majority of members!)
With the exception of expulsion of officers and other board members or negotiatiion of contracts (items for closed door board proceedings), there should be no info that shouldn't be available to the public- and I mean even non-members.
Your 990 is a public document. Some school districts demand more "transparency" from parent organizations than the IRS or the state in which they are chartered or incorporated do.
My question would be -"why do you want to keep them secret?"
FYI:Every PTA requires the budget be approved by the general membership. Every PTA requires annual audits. These are commonalities of every local unit PTA.

Basically it is illegal to withhold finances, budget information from membership. All transactions/business needs to be approved by the majority of the general membership.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO HIDE???

The only PTA left in our town always hides the finances. They are not at all forthcoming. And the best part of all is that when someone went to county PTA about this,all county had to say was "well, you know". Seems like PTA isn't as wonderful as Michigan mom makes them out to be!

AMomof3- Welcome to the boards!

I'm a little confused by your posting, but it sounds like you don't want to show the finances. Mum24 has it right. To be honest, as annoying as it is to have someone questioning your every step, it's just easier to be forthcoming and answer the questions. As soon as you look like you're hiding something, even if there isn't anything to hide, people will never trust you.