FCPS Board to vote on external financial audit

On Tuesday, September 16th at 5:30pm, the Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) Board of Education will vote to commission an external audit of the District's financial situation.

School Board Chair Tyler Murphy called the special meeting last week after growing requests from public members for an external audit. Superintendent Demetrus Liggins has said an internal investigation into the causes for the smaller-than-expected revenues in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget is ongoing, but some have expressed that an external audit would be more objective and informative.

In September 8th's School Board meeting, Liggins's Administration presented a final draft of the FY26 budget. The budget's General Fund is roughly $21.4 million smaller than the draft budget shared in May. That's largely because the May budget had included increased revenue from the Occupational License Tax increase that the District has since given up on pursuing.

The current draft budget instead includes millions of dollars in cuts. Those cuts include:

• Freezing hiring for all FCPS positions, excluding classroom positions and bus drivers
• Restricting District-wide events, such as staff appreciation dinners
• Laying off Superintendent Liggins's personal executive coach
• Moving staff positions from schools with excess staff to schools that are understaffed, which would save money by cutting substitute costs at the understaffed schools
• Discontinuing Non-traditional Instruction (NTI) Days

The School Board will have a final vote on the FY26 Budget in September 22nd's School Board meeting.