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Kentucky Auditor Launches Special Examination of Fayette County Public Schools

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Illustration representing the financial examination of Fayette County Public Schools.

News Summary

Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball has initiated a special examination of Fayette County Public Schools due to financial concerns, including a $16 million budget shortfall. Faced with rising scrutiny and issues surrounding tax increases deemed unlawful, the school board is set to implement significant budget cuts while forming a diverse committee to address fiscal challenges. This marks the second special examination of FCPS, following a previous audit in 2014 that uncovered financial mismanagement. The outcome will be critical in shaping the district’s financial stability.

Lexington, Kentucky – Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball has initiated a special examination of Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) amid rising financial concerns from parents and local constituents. This thorough review aims to evaluate the school district’s operations, performance, and compliance with regulatory requirements, extending beyond the limitations of a standard financial audit focused primarily on financial statements.

A spokesperson for Auditor Ball confirmed that the complete scope of the examination is still under determination. The decision for this investigation arises in the wake of a significant $16 million budget shortfall reported by FCPS, alongside the district’s controversial attempts to augment local occupational taxes—a move recently ruled unlawful by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman. Legal opinions have asserted that the process for voting to increase occupational license tax rates from 0.5% to 0.75% lacked necessary public notice and community hearings.

In light of the legal constraints, the proposed tax increase has been placed on hold as FCPS leadership decided to cancel the scheduled public hearing and vote originally set for June 23. To address these pressing financial issues, the school board unanimously resolved to establish a district committee that will encompass a diverse range of stakeholders, including students, staff, community representatives, and business leaders, all tasked with confronting the fiscal challenges associated with the district’s 2025-2026 budget.

To tackle the budget deficit, FCPS officials have indicated they will implement a 20% budget cut across all departments. Contributing factors to the financial shortfall include over a decade of stagnant state funding, the cessation of federal relief funds, escalating operating costs driven by inflation, and recurring increases in staff compensation.

Concerns regarding transparency within FCPS have also arisen. Notification for a crucial board meeting held on May 27, where board members discussed the tax increase, was reportedly communicated with minimal advance warning through a last-minute inclusion on an online agenda.

This is not the first time FCPS has faced scrutiny over financial mismanagement. The last special examination took place in 2014, triggered by reports of a $20 million budget discrepancy. That audit unveiled issues related to inadequate money management and a lack of transparency concerning salary increases within the district.

As the current special examination coincides with other audits being conducted by Auditor Ball on both the Kentucky Department of Education and Jefferson County Public Schools, the specific timeline and cost details of the new audit of FCPS are yet to be disclosed.

Fayette County Public Schools caters to a student body of approximately 40,000 and employs nearly 2,900 teachers and additional support staff. The results of this examination and the subsequent actions taken by FCPS leadership will be crucial in determining the future financial health and operational integrity of the district.

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