Fayette County school leaders respond to State Auditor’s letter on financial audit

LEXINGTON, KY. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Fayette County Public School leaders are responding to a letter from Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball regarding the district’s plan to move forward with an external audit amid an ongoing financial shortfall.

In a statement, Board of Education Chair Tyler Murphy said the Board approved an outside audit in response to community calls for accountability and transparency. Murphy stated, “We firmly believe that multiple points of review will promote accountability and transparency, reinforcing public trust in the district’s financial decision-making. Our expectation is that these reviews will vary in their scope and examinations, leading to a fuller and more comprehensive picture for the public.”

Murphy added that the Board welcomes conversations with the State Auditor to clarify the scopes of both audits and address any questions she may have.

Earlier this week, Auditor Ball expressed concern that the district’s external audit would duplicate efforts already planned by her office. In a letter to district officials, Ball said her office’s audit would focus on the same financial issues and warned the district against spending additional taxpayer money on overlapping reviews.

Ball urged Fayette County Schools to reconsider commissioning an external audit and to instead coordinate with her office to ensure resources are used efficiently.