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With Receipts and Respect
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#71
The Business of Public Education / The Education Industry's Inter...
Last post by Shadowninja - Oct 09, 2026, 06:51 AMDearest reader,
Lady B has spent a considerable amount of time following taxpayer dollars through Michigan's public education system. And somewhere along the way, a rather interesting picture began to emerge.
Law firms. Financial advisers. Bond underwriters. Architects. Construction managers. Consultants. Technology companies. Professional associations. Conference organizers.
An entire business ecosystem surrounding our public schools.
These organizations provide services to school districts. They also work with one another. Some sponsor the very associations that train school administrators. Some provide the training themselves. Some advise districts on borrowing, construction, compliance, and financial decisions.
And all of it involves money.
Public money.
Now, Lady B has absolutely nothing against private businesses making a profit. That is, after all, the purpose of operating a business.
But therein lies the question that has been occupying this particular ledger keeper's thoughts.
There is nothing wrong with a private company making a profit. But there is something worth examining when the companies advising public schools on how to spend taxpayer money also stand to profit — and do earn revenue — from the services and transactions involved in those decisions.
Think about that for a moment.
A private business has a financial interest in retaining customers, selling services, and generating revenue.
A public school district has a responsibility to educate children while being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.
Those interests can certainly align.
But what happens when they don't?
When an organization earns money from school borrowing, who benefits when a district borrows more?
When a consultant recommends additional services, who benefits if the district purchases them?
When the companies selling services to schools are also helping train and advise the people responsible for purchasing those services, where is the line between professional guidance and financial self-interest?
And perhaps the most interesting question of all:
Who makes money when a school district decides NOT to spend?
Lady B is not suggesting that schools don't need attorneys, architects, financial advisers, or other professional services. Of course they do.
But the growing network of businesses, associations, and professional relationships surrounding public education deserves just as much scrutiny as the districts themselves.
Because while private companies are entitled to pursue profits, public schools have a very different obligation.
Their purpose is not to generate business for the organizations surrounding them.
Their purpose is to educate children.
And every dollar flowing through this ecosystem ultimately represents public resources that could have been used elsewhere.
So Lady B leaves you with one question:
If so many organizations have a financial interest in schools continuing to spend taxpayer money, who is making sure those spending decisions are truly in the best interests of the students, teachers, support staff, and taxpayers?
Perhaps it is time we examine not just how much money goes into public education, but how many hands it passes through along the way.
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown 🪶
Lady B has spent a considerable amount of time following taxpayer dollars through Michigan's public education system. And somewhere along the way, a rather interesting picture began to emerge.
Law firms. Financial advisers. Bond underwriters. Architects. Construction managers. Consultants. Technology companies. Professional associations. Conference organizers.
An entire business ecosystem surrounding our public schools.
These organizations provide services to school districts. They also work with one another. Some sponsor the very associations that train school administrators. Some provide the training themselves. Some advise districts on borrowing, construction, compliance, and financial decisions.
And all of it involves money.
Public money.
Now, Lady B has absolutely nothing against private businesses making a profit. That is, after all, the purpose of operating a business.
But therein lies the question that has been occupying this particular ledger keeper's thoughts.
There is nothing wrong with a private company making a profit. But there is something worth examining when the companies advising public schools on how to spend taxpayer money also stand to profit — and do earn revenue — from the services and transactions involved in those decisions.
Think about that for a moment.
A private business has a financial interest in retaining customers, selling services, and generating revenue.
A public school district has a responsibility to educate children while being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.
Those interests can certainly align.
But what happens when they don't?
When an organization earns money from school borrowing, who benefits when a district borrows more?
When a consultant recommends additional services, who benefits if the district purchases them?
When the companies selling services to schools are also helping train and advise the people responsible for purchasing those services, where is the line between professional guidance and financial self-interest?
And perhaps the most interesting question of all:
Who makes money when a school district decides NOT to spend?
Lady B is not suggesting that schools don't need attorneys, architects, financial advisers, or other professional services. Of course they do.
But the growing network of businesses, associations, and professional relationships surrounding public education deserves just as much scrutiny as the districts themselves.
Because while private companies are entitled to pursue profits, public schools have a very different obligation.
Their purpose is not to generate business for the organizations surrounding them.
Their purpose is to educate children.
And every dollar flowing through this ecosystem ultimately represents public resources that could have been used elsewhere.
So Lady B leaves you with one question:
If so many organizations have a financial interest in schools continuing to spend taxpayer money, who is making sure those spending decisions are truly in the best interests of the students, teachers, support staff, and taxpayers?
Perhaps it is time we examine not just how much money goes into public education, but how many hands it passes through along the way.
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown 🪶
#72
Saginaw County / “Michigan Women for Democracy”...
Last post by Shadowninja - Oct 08, 2026, 09:03 PMDearest Readers,
Oh, for the love of all things laminated and filed alphabetically.
Lady B has apparently become the subject of a public warning in a Facebook group called "Michigan Women for Democracy."
And dearest readers, one must wonder what, precisely, is being served in the tea at these meetings. ☕️
Apparently, Lady B is anti-public education, a disgruntled individual, possibly a Republican PAC, and perhaps even a political candidate operating under false pretenses.
Good heavens!
All this time Lady B thought she was examining school finances. Apparently, she has been running a vast political conspiracy with a calculator, a spreadsheet, and a rather fetching wax seal.
Who knew? 🪶
But wait, dear readers. It gets better.
Who authored this fascinating little warning?
Katie Elizabeth err Katie Ellison
And why might that name be familiar?
Katie Ellison serves as President of the Saginaw Intermediate School District Board of Education AND Vice President of the Hemlock Public Schools Board of Education.
Yes. THOSE two boards.
The Saginaw ISD, where Lady B has examined seven consecutive years of audit findings, which ALL had issues and findings, which resulted in a corrective action plan, substantial increases in administrative spending, and a particularly remarkable increase in central administration expenditures. AND 45 MILLION combined in funds sitting in the SISD accounts.
And Hemlock Public Schools, where Lady B has been asking for the debt repayment schedule and financial details behind a proposed bond that officials describe as tax-neutral.
A schedule the public has still not been provided and Hemlock refuses to provide. Yet, Lady B is blocked from that page.
My, my.
One might think someone holding leadership positions on TWO boards would have plenty of financial records to occupy her attention.
Yet here we are, discussing the political affiliation of a fictional aristocrat with a spreadsheet.
Priorities, dearest readers. Priorities. 😂
Now, allow Lady B to clear up a few things.
Lady B is NOT a political action committee.
Lady B is NOT a Republican organization.
Lady B is NOT a Democratic organization.
Lady B does not endorse political parties.
And Lady B is most certainly NOT anti-public education.
Quite the opposite.
The entire reason this page exists is to advocate for MORE money reaching teachers, support staff, classrooms, and STUDENTS.
Not unnecessary administrative expenses.
Not questionable expenditures.
Not financial decisions that taxpayers cannot adequately examine.
THE CLASSROOM.
That is the mission. It has not changed.
And yes, Lady B uses artificial intelligence.
The horror!
She also uses state financial databases, audit reports, compensation disclosures, spreadsheets, calculators, and public records.
Apparently, making information easier for the public to understand has become a suspicious political activity.
One can only imagine the scandal if Lady B discovers a pivot table.
Someone alert the authorities. 🚨
Now, Lady B finds these accusations particularly amusing.
Since nobody seems able to determine who is behind this page, the speculation has become increasingly creative.
A Republican PAC! A disgruntled employee! A secret candidate!
At this rate, Lady B expects to be accused of orchestrating the Boston Tea Party.
But here's the rather unfortunate flaw in this little exercise.
Suggesting that Lady B has a secret political agenda does absolutely nothing to explain the financial records she publishes.
And attempting to sow seeds of mistrust?
Dearest readers, those seeds were planted long before Lady B arrived.
Years of financial questions, audit findings, and concerns about transparency have already allowed those seeds to grow into rather magnificent redwoods.
Particularly where the SISD and Hemlock boards are concerned.
Lady B did not plant that forest.
She merely arrived with a flashlight and began reading the signs. 🌲
And perhaps the greatest irony of all?
This warning appeared in a group with the word DEMOCRACY in its name.
Democracy!
A system in which citizens are supposed to have access to information, question their government, and hold public officials accountable.
Unless, apparently, those citizens start asking uncomfortable questions about school spending.
Then we must investigate the person holding the calculator.
How delightfully absurd.
Lady B has said it before, and she shall say it again.
If a number is wrong, bring the documentation.
If a financial record requires clarification, provide it.
If a district believes Lady B has misrepresented something, the district is welcome to explain it publicly.
But accusations about political affiliations, secret identities, and imaginary conspiracies are not financial rebuttals.
They are distractions.
And while everyone is busy trying to figure out who Lady B is, she will continue examining what public officials are doing with taxpayer money.
Because dearest readers, the question has never been WHO is asking.
The question is WHY the public has to work so hard to get answers.
With receipts and respect. 🪶
#LadyBudgetdown #Transparency #Accountability #PublicEducation #SISD #OurStory #HemlockHuskies #HemlockPublicSchools #SISDCTE
Oh, for the love of all things laminated and filed alphabetically.
Lady B has apparently become the subject of a public warning in a Facebook group called "Michigan Women for Democracy."
And dearest readers, one must wonder what, precisely, is being served in the tea at these meetings. ☕️
Apparently, Lady B is anti-public education, a disgruntled individual, possibly a Republican PAC, and perhaps even a political candidate operating under false pretenses.
Good heavens!
All this time Lady B thought she was examining school finances. Apparently, she has been running a vast political conspiracy with a calculator, a spreadsheet, and a rather fetching wax seal.
Who knew? 🪶
But wait, dear readers. It gets better.
Who authored this fascinating little warning?
Katie Elizabeth err Katie Ellison
And why might that name be familiar?
Katie Ellison serves as President of the Saginaw Intermediate School District Board of Education AND Vice President of the Hemlock Public Schools Board of Education.
Yes. THOSE two boards.
The Saginaw ISD, where Lady B has examined seven consecutive years of audit findings, which ALL had issues and findings, which resulted in a corrective action plan, substantial increases in administrative spending, and a particularly remarkable increase in central administration expenditures. AND 45 MILLION combined in funds sitting in the SISD accounts.
And Hemlock Public Schools, where Lady B has been asking for the debt repayment schedule and financial details behind a proposed bond that officials describe as tax-neutral.
A schedule the public has still not been provided and Hemlock refuses to provide. Yet, Lady B is blocked from that page.
My, my.
One might think someone holding leadership positions on TWO boards would have plenty of financial records to occupy her attention.
Yet here we are, discussing the political affiliation of a fictional aristocrat with a spreadsheet.
Priorities, dearest readers. Priorities. 😂
Now, allow Lady B to clear up a few things.
Lady B is NOT a political action committee.
Lady B is NOT a Republican organization.
Lady B is NOT a Democratic organization.
Lady B does not endorse political parties.
And Lady B is most certainly NOT anti-public education.
Quite the opposite.
The entire reason this page exists is to advocate for MORE money reaching teachers, support staff, classrooms, and STUDENTS.
Not unnecessary administrative expenses.
Not questionable expenditures.
Not financial decisions that taxpayers cannot adequately examine.
THE CLASSROOM.
That is the mission. It has not changed.
And yes, Lady B uses artificial intelligence.
The horror!
She also uses state financial databases, audit reports, compensation disclosures, spreadsheets, calculators, and public records.
Apparently, making information easier for the public to understand has become a suspicious political activity.
One can only imagine the scandal if Lady B discovers a pivot table.
Someone alert the authorities. 🚨
Now, Lady B finds these accusations particularly amusing.
Since nobody seems able to determine who is behind this page, the speculation has become increasingly creative.
A Republican PAC! A disgruntled employee! A secret candidate!
At this rate, Lady B expects to be accused of orchestrating the Boston Tea Party.
But here's the rather unfortunate flaw in this little exercise.
Suggesting that Lady B has a secret political agenda does absolutely nothing to explain the financial records she publishes.
And attempting to sow seeds of mistrust?
Dearest readers, those seeds were planted long before Lady B arrived.
Years of financial questions, audit findings, and concerns about transparency have already allowed those seeds to grow into rather magnificent redwoods.
Particularly where the SISD and Hemlock boards are concerned.
Lady B did not plant that forest.
She merely arrived with a flashlight and began reading the signs. 🌲
And perhaps the greatest irony of all?
This warning appeared in a group with the word DEMOCRACY in its name.
Democracy!
A system in which citizens are supposed to have access to information, question their government, and hold public officials accountable.
Unless, apparently, those citizens start asking uncomfortable questions about school spending.
Then we must investigate the person holding the calculator.
How delightfully absurd.
Lady B has said it before, and she shall say it again.
If a number is wrong, bring the documentation.
If a financial record requires clarification, provide it.
If a district believes Lady B has misrepresented something, the district is welcome to explain it publicly.
But accusations about political affiliations, secret identities, and imaginary conspiracies are not financial rebuttals.
They are distractions.
And while everyone is busy trying to figure out who Lady B is, she will continue examining what public officials are doing with taxpayer money.
Because dearest readers, the question has never been WHO is asking.
The question is WHY the public has to work so hard to get answers.
With receipts and respect. 🪶
#LadyBudgetdown #Transparency #Accountability #PublicEducation #SISD #OurStory #HemlockHuskies #HemlockPublicSchools #SISDCTE
#73
Saginaw ISD / Saginaw ISD: Seven consecutive...
Last post by Shadowninja - Oct 08, 2026, 08:34 PMDearest Readers,
It appears Lady Budgetdown has made her way into the conversations of Michigan's school finance officials.
Yesterday, Scott Sawyer, Associate Superintendent of Finance and Grants for Bay City Public Schools, sent a message to fellow school business officials discussing Lady Budgetdown, financial transparency, and the importance of accurate financial reporting.
He even included an analogy about wrestling with pigs in the mud. 🐷
My goodness. Lady B had no idea she was such a barnyard concern.
But since Mr. Sawyer brought up financial accuracy and transparency, perhaps we should take a peek at a few audit reports. 📜
🔎 FIRST STOP: SAGINAW ISD
Before arriving at Bay City Public Schools, Mr. Sawyer held senior leadership positions at Saginaw ISD, including positions with financial responsibilities.
And what do the audits tell us?
Saginaw ISD carried a recurring budget-compliance finding for SEVEN consecutive fiscal years, 2019 through 2025.
Seven. Consecutive. Years.
The finding was classified as a material weakness and material noncompliance.
Even more interesting?
Saginaw ISD's 2025 corrective action plan specifically named Scott Sawyer, Executive Director of Finance, and Tammy Cavendish, Director of Finance, as the individuals responsible for implementing corrective action.
Those are not Lady B's opinions.
Those are the district's own audit documents.
🔎 NEXT STOP: BAY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Now, to be fair, Mr. Sawyer arrived at Bay City in 2026, after the following audit periods.
But let's see what was waiting for him.
📌 2024 Audit:
• Financial reporting deficiencies requiring material auditor adjustments.
• Monthly financial statements and disbursement listings were not provided to the Board of Education.
• Auditors identified a material weakness in internal controls.
📌 2025 Audit:
• Financial reporting problems appeared AGAIN as a repeat finding.
• Auditors required significant adjustments to the General Fund and Capital Project Funds.
• The board oversight finding ALSO appeared again.
• Auditors reported that financial information was not provided to board members in a timely and accessible manner.
And the auditors specifically noted that the district lacked proper board oversight throughout the year.
Well, well, well. 🧐
So, to recap:
At Saginaw ISD, seven consecutive years of a recurring audit finding during a period that included Mr. Sawyer's financial leadership responsibilities.
At Bay City Public Schools, two consecutive audits documenting repeat financial reporting and board oversight deficiencies before his arrival.
And yesterday, Michigan school business officials received advice about financial transparency, accurate reporting, and Lady Budgetdown.
How delightfully awkward.
Now, Lady B isn't suggesting Mr. Sawyer personally caused these findings. Nor does an older audit establish whether corrective actions have since been completed.
But perhaps before worrying about Lady Budgetdown examining public records, it might be worth making sure the financial reporting and oversight issues documented at his current district have been fully addressed.
After all, Lady B isn't the one issuing audit findings.
Independent auditors are.
And as for wrestling with pigs in the mud? 🐷
Lady B prefers a clean desk, a fresh cup of tea, and seven years of audit reports.
Much less laundry.
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown 🎩
#LadyBudgetdown #WithReceiptsAndRespect #SaginawISD #BayCityPublicSchools #MichiganSchools #SchoolFinance #FinancialTransparency #PublicEducation #TaxpayerDollars #AuditFindings #Accountability #EveryDollarMatters
It appears Lady Budgetdown has made her way into the conversations of Michigan's school finance officials.
Yesterday, Scott Sawyer, Associate Superintendent of Finance and Grants for Bay City Public Schools, sent a message to fellow school business officials discussing Lady Budgetdown, financial transparency, and the importance of accurate financial reporting.
He even included an analogy about wrestling with pigs in the mud. 🐷
My goodness. Lady B had no idea she was such a barnyard concern.
But since Mr. Sawyer brought up financial accuracy and transparency, perhaps we should take a peek at a few audit reports. 📜
🔎 FIRST STOP: SAGINAW ISD
Before arriving at Bay City Public Schools, Mr. Sawyer held senior leadership positions at Saginaw ISD, including positions with financial responsibilities.
And what do the audits tell us?
Saginaw ISD carried a recurring budget-compliance finding for SEVEN consecutive fiscal years, 2019 through 2025.
Seven. Consecutive. Years.
The finding was classified as a material weakness and material noncompliance.
Even more interesting?
Saginaw ISD's 2025 corrective action plan specifically named Scott Sawyer, Executive Director of Finance, and Tammy Cavendish, Director of Finance, as the individuals responsible for implementing corrective action.
Those are not Lady B's opinions.
Those are the district's own audit documents.
🔎 NEXT STOP: BAY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Now, to be fair, Mr. Sawyer arrived at Bay City in 2026, after the following audit periods.
But let's see what was waiting for him.
📌 2024 Audit:
• Financial reporting deficiencies requiring material auditor adjustments.
• Monthly financial statements and disbursement listings were not provided to the Board of Education.
• Auditors identified a material weakness in internal controls.
📌 2025 Audit:
• Financial reporting problems appeared AGAIN as a repeat finding.
• Auditors required significant adjustments to the General Fund and Capital Project Funds.
• The board oversight finding ALSO appeared again.
• Auditors reported that financial information was not provided to board members in a timely and accessible manner.
And the auditors specifically noted that the district lacked proper board oversight throughout the year.
Well, well, well. 🧐
So, to recap:
At Saginaw ISD, seven consecutive years of a recurring audit finding during a period that included Mr. Sawyer's financial leadership responsibilities.
At Bay City Public Schools, two consecutive audits documenting repeat financial reporting and board oversight deficiencies before his arrival.
And yesterday, Michigan school business officials received advice about financial transparency, accurate reporting, and Lady Budgetdown.
How delightfully awkward.
Now, Lady B isn't suggesting Mr. Sawyer personally caused these findings. Nor does an older audit establish whether corrective actions have since been completed.
But perhaps before worrying about Lady Budgetdown examining public records, it might be worth making sure the financial reporting and oversight issues documented at his current district have been fully addressed.
After all, Lady B isn't the one issuing audit findings.
Independent auditors are.
And as for wrestling with pigs in the mud? 🐷
Lady B prefers a clean desk, a fresh cup of tea, and seven years of audit reports.
Much less laundry.
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown 🎩
#LadyBudgetdown #WithReceiptsAndRespect #SaginawISD #BayCityPublicSchools #MichiganSchools #SchoolFinance #FinancialTransparency #PublicEducation #TaxpayerDollars #AuditFindings #Accountability #EveryDollarMatters
#74
Bay City Public Schools / Scott Sawyer, Assoc. Superinte...
Last post by Shadowninja - Oct 08, 2026, 08:32 PMDearest Readers,
It appears Lady Budgetdown has made her way into the conversations of Michigan's school finance officials.
Yesterday, Scott Sawyer, Associate Superintendent of Finance and Grants for Bay City Public Schools, sent a message to fellow school business officials discussing Lady Budgetdown, financial transparency, and the importance of accurate financial reporting.
He even included an analogy about wrestling with pigs in the mud. 🐷
My goodness. Lady B had no idea she was such a barnyard concern.
But since Mr. Sawyer brought up financial accuracy and transparency, perhaps we should take a peek at a few audit reports. 📜
🔎 FIRST STOP: SAGINAW ISD
Before arriving at Bay City Public Schools, Mr. Sawyer held senior leadership positions at Saginaw ISD, including positions with financial responsibilities.
And what do the audits tell us?
Saginaw ISD carried a recurring budget-compliance finding for SEVEN consecutive fiscal years, 2019 through 2025.
Seven. Consecutive. Years.
The finding was classified as a material weakness and material noncompliance.
Even more interesting?
Saginaw ISD's 2025 corrective action plan specifically named Scott Sawyer, Executive Director of Finance, and Tammy Cavendish, Director of Finance, as the individuals responsible for implementing corrective action.
Those are not Lady B's opinions.
Those are the district's own audit documents.
🔎 NEXT STOP: BAY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Now, to be fair, Mr. Sawyer arrived at Bay City in 2026, after the following audit periods.
But let's see what was waiting for him.
📌 2024 Audit:
• Financial reporting deficiencies requiring material auditor adjustments.
• Monthly financial statements and disbursement listings were not provided to the Board of Education.
• Auditors identified a material weakness in internal controls.
📌 2025 Audit:
• Financial reporting problems appeared AGAIN as a repeat finding.
• Auditors required significant adjustments to the General Fund and Capital Project Funds.
• The board oversight finding ALSO appeared again.
• Auditors reported that financial information was not provided to board members in a timely and accessible manner.
And the auditors specifically noted that the district lacked proper board oversight throughout the year.
Well, well, well. 🧐
So, to recap:
At Saginaw ISD, seven consecutive years of a recurring audit finding during a period that included Mr. Sawyer's financial leadership responsibilities.
At Bay City Public Schools, two consecutive audits documenting repeat financial reporting and board oversight deficiencies before his arrival.
And yesterday, Michigan school business officials received advice about financial transparency, accurate reporting, and Lady Budgetdown.
How delightfully awkward.
Now, Lady B isn't suggesting Mr. Sawyer personally caused these findings. Nor does an older audit establish whether corrective actions have since been completed.
But perhaps before worrying about Lady Budgetdown examining public records, it might be worth making sure the financial reporting and oversight issues documented at his current district have been fully addressed.
After all, Lady B isn't the one issuing audit findings.
Independent auditors are.
And as for wrestling with pigs in the mud? 🐷
Lady B prefers a clean desk, a fresh cup of tea, and seven years of audit reports.
Much less laundry.
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown 🎩
#LadyBudgetdown #WithReceiptsAndRespect #SaginawISD #BayCityPublicSchools #MichiganSchools #SchoolFinance #FinancialTransparency #PublicEducation #TaxpayerDollars #AuditFindings #Accountability #EveryDollarMatters
It appears Lady Budgetdown has made her way into the conversations of Michigan's school finance officials.
Yesterday, Scott Sawyer, Associate Superintendent of Finance and Grants for Bay City Public Schools, sent a message to fellow school business officials discussing Lady Budgetdown, financial transparency, and the importance of accurate financial reporting.
He even included an analogy about wrestling with pigs in the mud. 🐷
My goodness. Lady B had no idea she was such a barnyard concern.
But since Mr. Sawyer brought up financial accuracy and transparency, perhaps we should take a peek at a few audit reports. 📜
🔎 FIRST STOP: SAGINAW ISD
Before arriving at Bay City Public Schools, Mr. Sawyer held senior leadership positions at Saginaw ISD, including positions with financial responsibilities.
And what do the audits tell us?
Saginaw ISD carried a recurring budget-compliance finding for SEVEN consecutive fiscal years, 2019 through 2025.
Seven. Consecutive. Years.
The finding was classified as a material weakness and material noncompliance.
Even more interesting?
Saginaw ISD's 2025 corrective action plan specifically named Scott Sawyer, Executive Director of Finance, and Tammy Cavendish, Director of Finance, as the individuals responsible for implementing corrective action.
Those are not Lady B's opinions.
Those are the district's own audit documents.
🔎 NEXT STOP: BAY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Now, to be fair, Mr. Sawyer arrived at Bay City in 2026, after the following audit periods.
But let's see what was waiting for him.
📌 2024 Audit:
• Financial reporting deficiencies requiring material auditor adjustments.
• Monthly financial statements and disbursement listings were not provided to the Board of Education.
• Auditors identified a material weakness in internal controls.
📌 2025 Audit:
• Financial reporting problems appeared AGAIN as a repeat finding.
• Auditors required significant adjustments to the General Fund and Capital Project Funds.
• The board oversight finding ALSO appeared again.
• Auditors reported that financial information was not provided to board members in a timely and accessible manner.
And the auditors specifically noted that the district lacked proper board oversight throughout the year.
Well, well, well. 🧐
So, to recap:
At Saginaw ISD, seven consecutive years of a recurring audit finding during a period that included Mr. Sawyer's financial leadership responsibilities.
At Bay City Public Schools, two consecutive audits documenting repeat financial reporting and board oversight deficiencies before his arrival.
And yesterday, Michigan school business officials received advice about financial transparency, accurate reporting, and Lady Budgetdown.
How delightfully awkward.
Now, Lady B isn't suggesting Mr. Sawyer personally caused these findings. Nor does an older audit establish whether corrective actions have since been completed.
But perhaps before worrying about Lady Budgetdown examining public records, it might be worth making sure the financial reporting and oversight issues documented at his current district have been fully addressed.
After all, Lady B isn't the one issuing audit findings.
Independent auditors are.
And as for wrestling with pigs in the mud? 🐷
Lady B prefers a clean desk, a fresh cup of tea, and seven years of audit reports.
Much less laundry.
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown 🎩
#LadyBudgetdown #WithReceiptsAndRespect #SaginawISD #BayCityPublicSchools #MichiganSchools #SchoolFinance #FinancialTransparency #PublicEducation #TaxpayerDollars #AuditFindings #Accountability #EveryDollarMatters
#75
Associations & Memberships / Following the Conference Money...
Last post by Shadowninja - Oct 08, 2026, 08:28 PMDearest reader,
Lady B has been following the business built around Michigan's public education system.
Earlier, we examined the Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO) and identified $25,990 in payments from just eight Michigan public education entities.
But the ledger led us somewhere else.
Conferences. Hotels. Registration fees. Professional development.
And two names kept appearing.
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids and Edge Partnerships.
Edge Partnerships is identified as the host organization for the Michigan Career Education Conference, held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.
So Lady B started searching school district payment records.
And here is what we found.
AMWAY GRAND PLAZA HOTEL
Grosse Ile Township Schools: $22,109.56
Saginaw Public Schools: $12,322.32
Utica Community Schools: $10,987.20
Saginaw Intermediate School District: $7,712.42
Trenton Public Schools: $2,083.32
TOTAL: $55,214.82
EDGE PARTNERSHIPS
Utica Community Schools: $6,650.00
Saginaw Public Schools: $1,000.00
Lansing School District: $950.00
Saginaw Intermediate School District: $700.00
TOTAL: $9,300.00
COMBINED IDENTIFIED PAYMENTS: $64,514.82
And these figures come from only a handful of Michigan school districts and an intermediate school district.
Think about that for a moment.
We haven't examined every district in Michigan. Not even close.
And these are only two vendors.
They do not include the full range of conference-related spending, such as mileage, meals, other hotels, employee reimbursements, or payments to additional conference organizers.
Now, Lady B has a few questions.
How much are Michigan's public schools spending statewide on conferences, registrations, lodging, and professional development?
How many employees are attending?
How much of that spending is paid from local operating funds, state funding, or federal grants?
And perhaps most importantly, how do districts evaluate whether these expenses produce meaningful benefits for their teachers, support staff, and students?
Professional development can absolutely be valuable.
But value should be something districts can explain, not something taxpayers are simply expected to assume.
Lady B is not suggesting every payment to Amway Grand Plaza was connected to the Michigan Career Education Conference. The hotel hosts numerous events, and these payments span multiple fiscal years.
The figures represent identified vendor payments and, where noted in the underlying registers, purchasing-card spending. They are not a complete accounting of conference costs.
But they do illustrate something worth examining.
Public education is not a business.
Yet there is an entire business built around public education.
And every dollar flowing through that business began somewhere.
Lady B would simply like to know how much of it ultimately makes its way back to the classroom.
The ledger remains open.
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown 🪶
#LadyBudgetdown #WithReceiptsAndRespect #FollowTheMoney #MichiganSchools #PublicEducation #TaxpayerDollars #SchoolSpending #SchoolTransparency #EducationFunding #ProfessionalDevelopment #SchoolConferences #Accountability #TeachersFirst #StudentsFirst #TheBusinessOfEducation
Lady B has been following the business built around Michigan's public education system.
Earlier, we examined the Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO) and identified $25,990 in payments from just eight Michigan public education entities.
But the ledger led us somewhere else.
Conferences. Hotels. Registration fees. Professional development.
And two names kept appearing.
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids and Edge Partnerships.
Edge Partnerships is identified as the host organization for the Michigan Career Education Conference, held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.
So Lady B started searching school district payment records.
And here is what we found.
AMWAY GRAND PLAZA HOTEL
Grosse Ile Township Schools: $22,109.56
Saginaw Public Schools: $12,322.32
Utica Community Schools: $10,987.20
Saginaw Intermediate School District: $7,712.42
Trenton Public Schools: $2,083.32
TOTAL: $55,214.82
EDGE PARTNERSHIPS
Utica Community Schools: $6,650.00
Saginaw Public Schools: $1,000.00
Lansing School District: $950.00
Saginaw Intermediate School District: $700.00
TOTAL: $9,300.00
COMBINED IDENTIFIED PAYMENTS: $64,514.82
And these figures come from only a handful of Michigan school districts and an intermediate school district.
Think about that for a moment.
We haven't examined every district in Michigan. Not even close.
And these are only two vendors.
They do not include the full range of conference-related spending, such as mileage, meals, other hotels, employee reimbursements, or payments to additional conference organizers.
Now, Lady B has a few questions.
How much are Michigan's public schools spending statewide on conferences, registrations, lodging, and professional development?
How many employees are attending?
How much of that spending is paid from local operating funds, state funding, or federal grants?
And perhaps most importantly, how do districts evaluate whether these expenses produce meaningful benefits for their teachers, support staff, and students?
Professional development can absolutely be valuable.
But value should be something districts can explain, not something taxpayers are simply expected to assume.
Lady B is not suggesting every payment to Amway Grand Plaza was connected to the Michigan Career Education Conference. The hotel hosts numerous events, and these payments span multiple fiscal years.
The figures represent identified vendor payments and, where noted in the underlying registers, purchasing-card spending. They are not a complete accounting of conference costs.
But they do illustrate something worth examining.
Public education is not a business.
Yet there is an entire business built around public education.
And every dollar flowing through that business began somewhere.
Lady B would simply like to know how much of it ultimately makes its way back to the classroom.
The ledger remains open.
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown 🪶
#LadyBudgetdown #WithReceiptsAndRespect #FollowTheMoney #MichiganSchools #PublicEducation #TaxpayerDollars #SchoolSpending #SchoolTransparency #EducationFunding #ProfessionalDevelopment #SchoolConferences #Accountability #TeachersFirst #StudentsFirst #TheBusinessOfEducation
#76
Associations & Memberships / MSBO - Just 8 Michigan public ...
Last post by Shadowninja - Oct 08, 2026, 08:26 PMDearest reader,
There is a business built around public education. And Lady B has been following the money.
Yesterday, we examined the Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO), an organization reporting approximately $5.78 million in annual revenue and $10.74 million in assets.
Today, Lady B went looking through school district check registers.
And look what the ledger revealed.
Just 8 Michigan public education entities.
$25,990 in identified payments to MSBO.
Here are the receipts:
Saginaw Intermediate School District: $190.00
Saginaw Public Schools: $810.00
Grosse Ile Township Schools: $10,730.00
Trenton Public Schools: $1,575.00
River Rouge Public Schools: $910.00
Grand Blanc Community Schools: $3,245.00
Lansing School District: $1,815.00
Utica Community Schools: $6,715.00
TOTAL: $25,990.00
And what were these payments for?
Memberships. Workshops. Conferences. Certifications. Professional development.
Michigan has 537 local school districts, 56 intermediate school districts, and hundreds of public school academies.
Lady B has examined only a small fraction of them.
So here's a question worth asking.
How much taxpayer money flows from Michigan's public schools into the organizations that have built a business around public education?
And more importantly, how much of that spending ultimately benefits the teachers, support staff, and students those dollars are meant to serve?
Lady B isn't suggesting professional development has no value. But every dollar has a destination, and taxpayers deserve to know where their education dollars go.
Public education is not a business.
But there certainly is a business built around public education.
And Lady B intends to keep following the money.
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown 🪶
Note: The $25,990 represents identified payments across multiple fiscal years, not a single-year statewide total. The Trenton amount includes MSBO-identified purchasing-card spending.
#LadyBudgetdown #WithReceiptsAndRespect #FollowTheMoney #MichiganSchools #MSBO #PublicEducation #TaxpayerDollars #SchoolSpending #EducationFunding #SchoolTransparency #Accountability #TeachersFirst #StudentsFirst #TheBusinessOfEducation
There is a business built around public education. And Lady B has been following the money.
Yesterday, we examined the Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO), an organization reporting approximately $5.78 million in annual revenue and $10.74 million in assets.
Today, Lady B went looking through school district check registers.
And look what the ledger revealed.
Just 8 Michigan public education entities.
$25,990 in identified payments to MSBO.
Here are the receipts:
Saginaw Intermediate School District: $190.00
Saginaw Public Schools: $810.00
Grosse Ile Township Schools: $10,730.00
Trenton Public Schools: $1,575.00
River Rouge Public Schools: $910.00
Grand Blanc Community Schools: $3,245.00
Lansing School District: $1,815.00
Utica Community Schools: $6,715.00
TOTAL: $25,990.00
And what were these payments for?
Memberships. Workshops. Conferences. Certifications. Professional development.
Michigan has 537 local school districts, 56 intermediate school districts, and hundreds of public school academies.
Lady B has examined only a small fraction of them.
So here's a question worth asking.
How much taxpayer money flows from Michigan's public schools into the organizations that have built a business around public education?
And more importantly, how much of that spending ultimately benefits the teachers, support staff, and students those dollars are meant to serve?
Lady B isn't suggesting professional development has no value. But every dollar has a destination, and taxpayers deserve to know where their education dollars go.
Public education is not a business.
But there certainly is a business built around public education.
And Lady B intends to keep following the money.
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown 🪶
Note: The $25,990 represents identified payments across multiple fiscal years, not a single-year statewide total. The Trenton amount includes MSBO-identified purchasing-card spending.
#LadyBudgetdown #WithReceiptsAndRespect #FollowTheMoney #MichiganSchools #MSBO #PublicEducation #TaxpayerDollars #SchoolSpending #EducationFunding #SchoolTransparency #Accountability #TeachersFirst #StudentsFirst #TheBusinessOfEducation
#77
Scope & What is Covered / FOUR Searchable Statewide Scho...
Last post by Shadowninja - Oct 08, 2026, 08:20 PMDearest reader,
This one has been quietly taking quite a bit of work behind the scenes.
Lady B's new website now has FOUR searchable statewide school databases.
No downloading giant Excel files.
No hunting through state websites.
No figuring out which column means what.
No spreadsheets required.
Just choose the database, search your school district, and read the receipts.
https://ladybudgetdown.com/home/
📚 SCHOOL FINANCIALS & STAFFING
Lady B's Statewide District Ledger. Compare district spending and staffing from 2014-15 to 2024-25, including instruction, administration, operations, teachers, aides, support staff and more.
🧸 EARLY CHILDHOOD
Search district-level early childhood programs and compare 2014-15 with 2024-25. See programs reported, children served and percentages, with suppressed state data preserved exactly as reported.
⏰ SHARED TIME
Search 12 years of Shared Time data, from 2014-15 through 2025-26. See regular enrollment alongside Shared Time FTE and headcount, including nonpublic and homeschool participation.
👩�🏫 REP STAFFING
Compare district staffing reported through Michigan's Registry of Educational Personnel from 2014-15 to 2024-25. Teachers. Instructional aides. Administrators. Student support. School support. And much more.
Why these databases?
Because these are questions readers have been asking.
Lady B receives the messages. I read the comments. I see the rabbit holes people want to explore.
Much of this information is technically public already. But "public" and "easily accessible to the public" are two very different things. So, Lady B is taking statewide data and putting it in one place where an ordinary parent, teacher, taxpayer or board member can actually search it.
And this is only the beginning.
More searchable databases are planned as time and finances allow.
Lady B is many things, dear reader. A web designer and PHP/SQL expert are decidedly not among them. 😂 The technical work required to build and maintain these tools is work Lady B pays someone to do. Hosting, development and the other expenses behind this project are real, and reader support is what allows Lady B to keep expanding it.
If these tools save you time, help you understand your district, or send you down a rabbit hole of your own, please consider supporting Lady B.
The goal has never been to keep the receipts in Lady B's ledger.
The goal is to put them in yours.
With receipts and respect.
#LadyBudgetdown #MichiganSchools #PublicEducation #SchoolFinance #SchoolTransparency #PublicRecords #MichiganEducation #SchoolData #WithReceiptsAndRespect
This one has been quietly taking quite a bit of work behind the scenes.
Lady B's new website now has FOUR searchable statewide school databases.
No downloading giant Excel files.
No hunting through state websites.
No figuring out which column means what.
No spreadsheets required.
Just choose the database, search your school district, and read the receipts.
https://ladybudgetdown.com/home/
📚 SCHOOL FINANCIALS & STAFFING
Lady B's Statewide District Ledger. Compare district spending and staffing from 2014-15 to 2024-25, including instruction, administration, operations, teachers, aides, support staff and more.
🧸 EARLY CHILDHOOD
Search district-level early childhood programs and compare 2014-15 with 2024-25. See programs reported, children served and percentages, with suppressed state data preserved exactly as reported.
⏰ SHARED TIME
Search 12 years of Shared Time data, from 2014-15 through 2025-26. See regular enrollment alongside Shared Time FTE and headcount, including nonpublic and homeschool participation.
👩�🏫 REP STAFFING
Compare district staffing reported through Michigan's Registry of Educational Personnel from 2014-15 to 2024-25. Teachers. Instructional aides. Administrators. Student support. School support. And much more.
Why these databases?
Because these are questions readers have been asking.
Lady B receives the messages. I read the comments. I see the rabbit holes people want to explore.
Much of this information is technically public already. But "public" and "easily accessible to the public" are two very different things. So, Lady B is taking statewide data and putting it in one place where an ordinary parent, teacher, taxpayer or board member can actually search it.
And this is only the beginning.
More searchable databases are planned as time and finances allow.
Lady B is many things, dear reader. A web designer and PHP/SQL expert are decidedly not among them. 😂 The technical work required to build and maintain these tools is work Lady B pays someone to do. Hosting, development and the other expenses behind this project are real, and reader support is what allows Lady B to keep expanding it.
If these tools save you time, help you understand your district, or send you down a rabbit hole of your own, please consider supporting Lady B.
The goal has never been to keep the receipts in Lady B's ledger.
The goal is to put them in yours.
With receipts and respect.
#LadyBudgetdown #MichiganSchools #PublicEducation #SchoolFinance #SchoolTransparency #PublicRecords #MichiganEducation #SchoolData #WithReceiptsAndRespect
#78
Clarkston Schools / Clarkston Community Schools - ...
Last post by Shadowninja - Oct 08, 2026, 08:18 PMDearest reader,
Sometimes a reader asks a question that opens an entirely different ledger.
Tonight, that reader was Jon Eastman.
Jon questioned the Clarkston pupil count Lady B published because he knew the district's traditional enrollment had been declining.
The number wasn't wrong.
Michigan's 2024-25 Bulletin 1014 reports Clarkston's pupil count as 9,024.69.
That is exactly what Lady B reported.
But Jon's question led somewhere much more interesting.
Clarkston's regular student headcount:
2014-15: 7,789
2024-25: 6,645
Down 1,144 students.
Down 14.7%.�
Clarkston's Shared Time headcount:
2014-15: 1,791
2024-25: 8,373
Up 6,582 students.
Up 367.5%.
And this is where the rabbit hole gets interesting.
Those 8,373 Shared Time students are not 8,373 additional full-time students attending Clarkston schools.
Shared Time allows a public school district to provide eligible classes to students attending nonpublic schools and receive state funding based on the fractional FTE generated by those classes.
In 2024-25, Clarkston reported:
Regular FTE: 6,629.59
Shared Time FTE: 2,296.81
Of that Shared Time FTE:
Nonpublic: 2,294.24
Homeschool: 2.57
So why would a public school district with declining traditional enrollment aggressively grow a program serving students in private schools?
Money appears to be a rather important part of the answer.
And Lady B isn't speculating.
Bridge Michigan investigated this exact issue in 2019.
Their reporting found that districts could receive considerably more state funding through Shared Time than it cost them to provide the services.
Why?
Because the public district can receive state aid for the Shared Time FTE while many of the expenses of educating those students aren't theirs.
The private school already has the building.
The private school is paying the utilities.
The private school is covering many of the operating expenses.
And Bridge reported that Shared Time teachers were often paid less than teachers working in the districts' traditional classrooms.
The difference can become revenue for the public district.
Clarkston wasn't some hypothetical example buried in that article.
Clarkston was specifically named.
Bridge reported in 2019 that Clarkston had roughly 170 Shared Time teachers and more than 30 long-term substitutes, with most of those substitutes working in Shared Time.
At the time, Bridge couldn't determine exactly how much Clarkston was profiting from the arrangement.
That was seven years ago.
Now look at the growth.
1,791 Shared Time students became 8,373.
While Clarkston lost 1,144 regular students.
So perhaps the more interesting question isn't:
"Why does Clarkston's state pupil count look so high?"
Perhaps it is:
How much money is Clarkston Community Schools generating from Shared Time?
How much does it actually cost Clarkston to provide those services?
How much is left after those expenses?
Where does that money go?
And how dependent has Clarkston become on Shared Time revenue as its traditional enrollment has declined?
There is another piece worth remembering.
This model became controversial enough that former Governor Rick Snyder proposed dramatically cutting state funding for Shared Time programs.
And the nonpartisan Citizens Research Council later described programs like Shared Time as a way districts hedge against the financial pressure of declining enrollment.
In other words...
Traditional enrollment falls.
Find students elsewhere.
Generate FTE.
Generate state aid.
Keep the difference between the revenue and the cost of providing the program.
That certainly makes a 367.5% increase worth examining.
And no, Lady B will not be changing the original Clarkston graphic.
The 9,024.69 figure is exactly what Michigan's Bulletin 1014 reports, and Bulletin 1014 is the source used consistently in these district comparisons.
The graphic did its job.
In fact, it did something even better.
It caused a reader to ask a question.
That question uncovered another ledger.
Credit where credit is due.
Thank you, Jon, for spotting the breadcrumb.
Lady B will take it from here. 🪶
With receipts and respect.
#LadyBudgetdown #ClarkstonCommunitySchools #ClarkstonSchools #SharedTime #MichiganSchools #SchoolFunding #PublicEducation #TaxpayerDollars #FollowTheMoney
Sometimes a reader asks a question that opens an entirely different ledger.
Tonight, that reader was Jon Eastman.
Jon questioned the Clarkston pupil count Lady B published because he knew the district's traditional enrollment had been declining.
The number wasn't wrong.
Michigan's 2024-25 Bulletin 1014 reports Clarkston's pupil count as 9,024.69.
That is exactly what Lady B reported.
But Jon's question led somewhere much more interesting.
Clarkston's regular student headcount:
2014-15: 7,789
2024-25: 6,645
Down 1,144 students.
Down 14.7%.�
Clarkston's Shared Time headcount:
2014-15: 1,791
2024-25: 8,373
Up 6,582 students.
Up 367.5%.
And this is where the rabbit hole gets interesting.
Those 8,373 Shared Time students are not 8,373 additional full-time students attending Clarkston schools.
Shared Time allows a public school district to provide eligible classes to students attending nonpublic schools and receive state funding based on the fractional FTE generated by those classes.
In 2024-25, Clarkston reported:
Regular FTE: 6,629.59
Shared Time FTE: 2,296.81
Of that Shared Time FTE:
Nonpublic: 2,294.24
Homeschool: 2.57
So why would a public school district with declining traditional enrollment aggressively grow a program serving students in private schools?
Money appears to be a rather important part of the answer.
And Lady B isn't speculating.
Bridge Michigan investigated this exact issue in 2019.
Their reporting found that districts could receive considerably more state funding through Shared Time than it cost them to provide the services.
Why?
Because the public district can receive state aid for the Shared Time FTE while many of the expenses of educating those students aren't theirs.
The private school already has the building.
The private school is paying the utilities.
The private school is covering many of the operating expenses.
And Bridge reported that Shared Time teachers were often paid less than teachers working in the districts' traditional classrooms.
The difference can become revenue for the public district.
Clarkston wasn't some hypothetical example buried in that article.
Clarkston was specifically named.
Bridge reported in 2019 that Clarkston had roughly 170 Shared Time teachers and more than 30 long-term substitutes, with most of those substitutes working in Shared Time.
At the time, Bridge couldn't determine exactly how much Clarkston was profiting from the arrangement.
That was seven years ago.
Now look at the growth.
1,791 Shared Time students became 8,373.
While Clarkston lost 1,144 regular students.
So perhaps the more interesting question isn't:
"Why does Clarkston's state pupil count look so high?"
Perhaps it is:
How much money is Clarkston Community Schools generating from Shared Time?
How much does it actually cost Clarkston to provide those services?
How much is left after those expenses?
Where does that money go?
And how dependent has Clarkston become on Shared Time revenue as its traditional enrollment has declined?
There is another piece worth remembering.
This model became controversial enough that former Governor Rick Snyder proposed dramatically cutting state funding for Shared Time programs.
And the nonpartisan Citizens Research Council later described programs like Shared Time as a way districts hedge against the financial pressure of declining enrollment.
In other words...
Traditional enrollment falls.
Find students elsewhere.
Generate FTE.
Generate state aid.
Keep the difference between the revenue and the cost of providing the program.
That certainly makes a 367.5% increase worth examining.
And no, Lady B will not be changing the original Clarkston graphic.
The 9,024.69 figure is exactly what Michigan's Bulletin 1014 reports, and Bulletin 1014 is the source used consistently in these district comparisons.
The graphic did its job.
In fact, it did something even better.
It caused a reader to ask a question.
That question uncovered another ledger.
Credit where credit is due.
Thank you, Jon, for spotting the breadcrumb.
Lady B will take it from here. 🪶
With receipts and respect.
#LadyBudgetdown #ClarkstonCommunitySchools #ClarkstonSchools #SharedTime #MichiganSchools #SchoolFunding #PublicEducation #TaxpayerDollars #FollowTheMoney
#79
Scope & What is Covered / DISAGREEMENT is welcome. DISRU...
Last post by Shadowninja - Oct 08, 2026, 08:14 PMDearest reader,
Apparently there is a little confusion about what gets someone removed from the Lady B page.
Let us clear that up.
Lady B does not ban people simply because they disagree with her.
Period.
You are welcome to disagree. You are welcome to provide additional context. You are welcome to defend your district, challenge my interpretation, question the methodology, or bring receipts of your own.
Readers do those things here regularly.
Their comments remain.
In fact, readers have provided information that resulted in Lady B correcting, clarifying, or expanding something I published.
That is how this is supposed to work.
But disagreement and disruptive behavior are not the same thing.
Personal attacks, harassment, trolling, attempts to identify or expose people, intimidating readers who provide information, repeatedly derailing discussions, or otherwise making productive conversation impossible are not "disagreement."
They are reasons to be shown the door.
So, to be perfectly clear:
If someone has been banned from the Lady B page, they were not banned simply because they disagreed with Lady B.
There was a reason.
I have a career, family, and life outside of this page. I receive on average of 50-70 messages a day. Not including emails. I used to spend way too much time on people who didn't want to engage or debate. They wanted to derail. I will not waste my time on that.
I'm also not going to publicly litigate individual moderation decisions or provide a running list explaining why every person was removed. Doing so would accomplish little more than creating another spectacle.
Lady B's page is moderated.
It has always been moderated.
And it will continue to be moderated.
If you believe something I publish is wrong, there is a wonderfully simple way to challenge it:
Bring the receipt.
I will read yours just as carefully as I expect you to read mine.
Disagreement is welcome.
Disruption is not.
With receipts and respect,
Lady B
#LadyBudgetdown #WithReceiptsAndRespect #Accountability #Transparency #BringTheReceipts
Apparently there is a little confusion about what gets someone removed from the Lady B page.
Let us clear that up.
Lady B does not ban people simply because they disagree with her.
Period.
You are welcome to disagree. You are welcome to provide additional context. You are welcome to defend your district, challenge my interpretation, question the methodology, or bring receipts of your own.
Readers do those things here regularly.
Their comments remain.
In fact, readers have provided information that resulted in Lady B correcting, clarifying, or expanding something I published.
That is how this is supposed to work.
But disagreement and disruptive behavior are not the same thing.
Personal attacks, harassment, trolling, attempts to identify or expose people, intimidating readers who provide information, repeatedly derailing discussions, or otherwise making productive conversation impossible are not "disagreement."
They are reasons to be shown the door.
So, to be perfectly clear:
If someone has been banned from the Lady B page, they were not banned simply because they disagreed with Lady B.
There was a reason.
I have a career, family, and life outside of this page. I receive on average of 50-70 messages a day. Not including emails. I used to spend way too much time on people who didn't want to engage or debate. They wanted to derail. I will not waste my time on that.
I'm also not going to publicly litigate individual moderation decisions or provide a running list explaining why every person was removed. Doing so would accomplish little more than creating another spectacle.
Lady B's page is moderated.
It has always been moderated.
And it will continue to be moderated.
If you believe something I publish is wrong, there is a wonderfully simple way to challenge it:
Bring the receipt.
I will read yours just as carefully as I expect you to read mine.
Disagreement is welcome.
Disruption is not.
With receipts and respect,
Lady B
#LadyBudgetdown #WithReceiptsAndRespect #Accountability #Transparency #BringTheReceipts
#80
Hemlock Public School District / HEMLOCK PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT...
Last post by Shadowninja - Oct 08, 2026, 08:06 PMDearest reader,
Today a reader sent me a question about the millage questions on the ballot. The reader stated that they were difficult to understand, and that the reader was unsure how much taxes would increase if voted yes.
So, let's talk about Hemlock, property taxes, and a little thing called compound growth. 📜
Lady B took the average residential taxable values from two townships within Hemlock Public Schools:
🏡 Richland Township: $78,046
🏡 Thomas Township: $99,395
That gives us a combined, equally weighted average of approximately $88,721.
Using actual school millages from a Hemlock homeowner's 2025 tax bill and an illustrative 2.9% annual increase in taxable value, Lady B calculated what those school taxes could look like over the next 10 years.
And because Hemlock's proposed $17.75 MILLION bond could extend for 27 years, I also projected the totals over that period.
But here's where the ledger gets interesting. 👀
Hemlock has presented the proposed bond as a 0.00-mill net increase in 2027.
What Lady B has NOT been able to obtain publicly is:
📜 The complete debt repayment schedule.
📜 The projected interest rate and total interest cost.
📜 The annual principal and interest payments.
📜 The projected combined debt millage over the life of the bonds.
Without those figures, taxpayers cannot independently determine the full financial impact of the proposed borrowing.
And while the district may call the proposal tax-neutral, that does not make it debt-neutral.
The accompanying chart illustrates projected school taxes using existing millages and taxable-value growth. It does NOT represent the additional cost of the proposed bond.
Lady B isn't asking anyone to vote yes or no.
She's asking a much simpler question:
If taxpayers are being asked to authorize $17.75 million in new borrowing, shouldn't they be able to see what it's projected to cost before they vote?
The ballot tells us how much Hemlock wants to borrow.
Lady B would rather like to see the rest of the ledger.
With receipts and respect,
Lady B 🪶
#LadyBudgetdown #HemlockPublicSchools #SchoolBonds #PropertyTaxes #TaxpayerTransparency #MichiganSchools
Today a reader sent me a question about the millage questions on the ballot. The reader stated that they were difficult to understand, and that the reader was unsure how much taxes would increase if voted yes.
So, let's talk about Hemlock, property taxes, and a little thing called compound growth. 📜
Lady B took the average residential taxable values from two townships within Hemlock Public Schools:
🏡 Richland Township: $78,046
🏡 Thomas Township: $99,395
That gives us a combined, equally weighted average of approximately $88,721.
Using actual school millages from a Hemlock homeowner's 2025 tax bill and an illustrative 2.9% annual increase in taxable value, Lady B calculated what those school taxes could look like over the next 10 years.
And because Hemlock's proposed $17.75 MILLION bond could extend for 27 years, I also projected the totals over that period.
But here's where the ledger gets interesting. 👀
Hemlock has presented the proposed bond as a 0.00-mill net increase in 2027.
What Lady B has NOT been able to obtain publicly is:
📜 The complete debt repayment schedule.
📜 The projected interest rate and total interest cost.
📜 The annual principal and interest payments.
📜 The projected combined debt millage over the life of the bonds.
Without those figures, taxpayers cannot independently determine the full financial impact of the proposed borrowing.
And while the district may call the proposal tax-neutral, that does not make it debt-neutral.
The accompanying chart illustrates projected school taxes using existing millages and taxable-value growth. It does NOT represent the additional cost of the proposed bond.
Lady B isn't asking anyone to vote yes or no.
She's asking a much simpler question:
If taxpayers are being asked to authorize $17.75 million in new borrowing, shouldn't they be able to see what it's projected to cost before they vote?
The ballot tells us how much Hemlock wants to borrow.
Lady B would rather like to see the rest of the ledger.
With receipts and respect,
Lady B 🪶
#LadyBudgetdown #HemlockPublicSchools #SchoolBonds #PropertyTaxes #TaxpayerTransparency #MichiganSchools