Fayette Co. Board of Education holds meeting to address budget woes

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Fayette County Public Schools is under mounting scrutiny over its finances, as board members met Thursday night to discuss a projected budget deficit and a finance administrator’s attorney alleges she was suspended for raising concerns.

Budget deficit discussions

At a special-called meeting, Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins said the district’s goal is to minimize the impact on school-level investments while still ensuring strong educational outcomes.

District leaders reported that the carry-forward balance for the new school year is projected at $26.3 million — far lower than the $42 million listed in the tentative budget adopted in May. The tentative budget also included $16 million in added revenue from an occupational license tax and a contingency fund of $42.9 million.

Liggins emphasized that moving forward, the plan will not include raising the occupational license tax.

Recommendations presented Thursday included:

• Freezing all hiring except for classroom positions and bus drivers.

• Restricting overnight professional learning at the district level.

• Eliminating food purchases for district-sponsored meetings and events.

• Ending district-level furniture replacements.

• Stopping the practice of sponsoring tables at community events.

• Discontinuing the use of NTI (non-traditional instruction) days.

Some board members questioned whether the district has already fallen below the 6% contingency fund required by board policy. Liggins said adjustments have already been made and additional reductions are under review.

Sidebar: What is FCPS’s contingency fund requirement?

• State law: Kentucky requires all school districts to keep at least 2% of their general fund in contingency.

• Local policy: Fayette County Public Schools goes further, requiring a minimum 6% contingency under its own board policy.

• Current concern: The district’s carry-forward balance is now projected at $26.3 million, down from $42 million listed in the tentative budget. Some board members questioned Thursday whether this has already pushed FCPS below the 6% requirement.

• Attorney’s claim: In a letter this week, attorney Brandon Voelker alleged budget official Ann Sampson Grimes repeatedly warned district leaders that cuts were needed to maintain the 6% cushion, but said her advice was ignored or silenced.

Attorney disputes finance official’s suspension

Thursday’s budget discussion comes the same week that attorney Brandon Voelker sent a letter to Superintendent Liggins and school board chair Tyler Murphy on behalf of Ann Sampson Grimes, the district’s Executive Director of Budget and Financial Planning.

Grimes, who has worked for the district since 2000, was placed on paid administrative leave on August 15 for 20 workdays. According to Voelker’s letter, Superintendent Liggins cited “inappropriate conduct” as the reason, though Associate Superintendent Dr. Barber reportedly described it as “an issue of leadership and not an issue of performance.”

Fayette County Public Schools has not responded to our request for interviews or a statement on the letter.

Parents weigh in

Some in the community remain skeptical as the district works to stabilize its finances. One parent who addressed the board said she has doubts about the district regaining public confidence.

“I don’t think they can at this point, because every time they come up with an answer then something else comes out and says, ‘Wait a minute.’ It’s, they’re just not accurate. I don’t think they’re gonna come up with one. I don’t think they’re gonna build the trust back,” she said.