Attorney: FCPS budget official placed on leave after raising concerns about district finances
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Fayette County Public Schools budget office is under scrutiny after the district placed longtime financial administrator Ann Sampson Grimes on paid administrative leave earlier this month.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Superintendent Demetrus Liggins and school board chair Tyler Murphy, attorney Brandon Voelker — who represents Grimes — described her suspension as “retaliatory” and “fictitious.”
According to Voelker’s letter, Grimes received a notice on August 15 from Superintendent Liggins placing her on paid administrative leave for 20 workdays. The stated reason was “inappropriate conduct.” Voelker wrote that two days earlier, Associate [Deputy] Superintendent Dr. [Houston] Barber told Grimes the leave was related to “an issue of leadership and not an issue of [her] performance.”
The letter notes Grimes has worked for Fayette County schools since 2000 and most recently served as Executive Director of Budget and Financial Planning. Voelker said her role required her to ensure compliance with state law and local board policy — including a rule that at least six percent of the district’s general fund be held in contingency, above the state’s required two percent.
Voelker claims Grimes repeatedly warned district leadership in 2024 and 2025 that budget cuts were needed to stay compliant, but her advice was ignored or silenced. He alleges administrators instructed her not to disclose concerns about cash flow, affordability of pay raises, or the need for reductions. The letter also raises concerns about sex and age discrimination, citing instances where younger male colleagues were promoted or appointed to senior roles without opportunities for her to interview.
The letter argues the district violated Kentucky’s Whistleblower Act, equal employment laws, and due process by failing to provide specific reasons for her discipline. It demands Grimes’ full reinstatement and an end to what Voelker called “retaliatory and discriminatory practices.”
ABC 36 News Now has reached out to the District Spokesperson with specifics for comment. We have not received a response at the time of this posting.
