Dearest reader,
Lady B stumbled upon something rather curious this morning.
It appears Hemlock Public Schools has blocked Lady Budgetdown from its official Facebook page.
Yes.
Blocked.
Lady B initially wondered whether perhaps she had accidentally offended the algorithm. Maybe Facebook simply could not handle this much navy blue and fiscal accountability in one place.
Alas, the receipts suggest something considerably more interesting.
This is apparently not the first time Hemlock has blocked someone who has been critical of the district.
Lady B has been provided an email chain from December 2024 regarding another individual who had been blocked from Hemlock's social media.
That person's identity will remain private at their request.
But the correspondence itself is rather illuminating.
The concern was brought directly to Superintendent Don Killingbeck. The individual specifically raised the issue of citizens being blocked from district social media and referenced the recent federal court decisions involving government officials and social media.
And Don responded.
Among other things, he wrote:
"It is important to ensure that our social media practices align with federal regulations, and your concerns are duly noted."
He also acknowledged that Hemlock manages multiple social-media streams, including official accounts.
So this was not an issue Hemlock had never heard about.
They were put on notice about it in 2024.
Fast-forward to October 2026.
Lady Budgetdown has spent the past several weeks examining Hemlock's finances, debt, borrowing and November bond proposal.
And wouldn't you know it?
Lady B is blocked too.
What an extraordinary coincidence.
Especially considering Hemlock's own public messaging about communication.
The district has previously said that "open communication with the community as a whole" is crucial.
And just recently, while promoting the November proposals, Hemlock posted this little gem:
"Keyboard warriors, Facebook experts, coffee-shop accountants, curious taxpayers, supporters, skeptics, and everyone in between. We welcome your questions."
Well.
Apparently not EVERYONE. 😂
Because the receipts now show more than one critic has found themselves on the wrong side of Hemlock's Facebook block button.
And that matters.
In 2024, the United States Supreme Court addressed government officials blocking citizens on social media in Lindke v. Freed. A case that, interestingly enough, came right out of Michigan.
The Supreme Court made clear that when government officials are exercising governmental authority through social media, their actions can constitute state action subject to the First Amendment.
That does not mean a public entity can never moderate its page. Threats, spam and other legitimately prohibited conduct are one thing.
Blocking people because they criticize their government?
That is an entirely different constitutional question.
And Hemlock's own social-media policy makes this even more curious. The district's official social-media accounts are district communications maintained by district personnel.
This isn't someone's private Facebook page.
This is Hemlock Public Schools.
Which brings Lady B to the part of the ledger that seems particularly timely.
Hemlock is currently asking voters to authorize up to $17.75 MILLION in additional bond debt this November.
The district says it is committed to "transparency" and "responsible stewardship of every taxpayer dollar."
Those are lovely words.
But trust isn't built by telling taxpayers how transparent you are.
Trust is built by what you do when someone disagrees with you.
If your response to scrutiny is to block the people doing the scrutinizing, perhaps taxpayers are entitled to ask a few additional questions before handing you another $17.75 million borrowing authorization.
You cannot simultaneously tell the community:
"We welcome your questions."
"We welcome skeptics."
"We value open communication."
"Trust us with millions more."
...and then apparently escort some of the skeptics out of the digital room.
Pick a lane, dear Hemlock.
And for anyone wondering whether Lady B's Hemlock ledger is nearing the bottom...
Oh, dearest reader.
Not remotely.
Lady B has been rather quiet about some of the Hemlock receipts sitting on her desk.
There are more.
Quite a few more.
And some of them are quite interesting too. I think that voters will want to see these receipts before voting to give Hemlock another $17 million dollars.
Some breadcrumbs simply require a little patience before they reach the ledger.
🪶
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown
#LadyBudgetdown #HemlockPublicSchools #HemlockSchools #Transparency #Accountability #PublicSchools #MichiganSchools #WithReceiptsAndRespect