Dearest reader,
Lady B has reached Step Four of the Hopkins Public Schools ledger.
Which means it is time to open the check register. 🪶
The 2025–26 register contains 1,139 checks totaling $2,938,346.09 after voids.
But as always, Lady B isn't interested in throwing every large check onto a graphic simply because it has a lot of zeros.
We're narrowing the ledger to a few identifiable categories.
⚖️ LEGAL — $17,236.82
Thrun Law Firm — $9,890.00
Clark Hill PLC — $7,153.50
Law Offices of Dennis Pollard PC — $193.32
📣 ADVERTISING / MEDIA — $240.00
Allegan County News — $240.00
That consisted of two $120 payments: one identified as a 2025–26 budget column and another for a budget hearing ad.
🪶 CONSULTING — $5,747.50
B & B W/W Consultants — $4,380.00
Mark P. Janke, Consulting Forester — $1,367.50
And context belongs here.
The B & B W/W Consulting expenditures appear operational/technical in nature, involving water-system work. Lady B is not suggesting that this represents administrative consulting.
📚 ASSOCIATION DUES / MEMBERSHIPS — $8,593.58
Put those four identifiable categories together and we arrive at:
$31,817.90
And sometimes, dearest reader, that is the interesting thing about opening a check register.
The number doesn't have to be enormous to be worth showing.
Hopkins' identifiable legal, advertising, consulting and association spending is considerably smaller than some of the district ledgers we've opened.
That's part of following the money, too.
If the receipts show a smaller number, Lady B shows you the smaller number.
No drama required.
Just the ledger. 🪶
One final page remains in Hopkins.
Next, we look at the district's financial condition.
With receipts and respect.
#LadyBudgetdown #HopkinsPublicSchools #HopkinsSchools #MichiganSchools #SchoolFinance #LegalSpending #Consulting #Advertising #AssociationDues #PublicEducation #PublicRecords #Transparency #Accountability #FollowTheMoney #WithReceiptsAndRespect
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