School Board Pauses in Budget Process

At Monday's planning session, school board Chair Tyler Murphy recommended pausing any immediate action on pursuing changes to the occupational license tax (OLT) until a diverse and representative group of stakeholders can be convened to further communicate the district’s budget process and the elements of the budget and to provide additional avenues for the community to weigh in and dive into what it takes to operate a district of this size and deliver results with lasting impact.

Superintendent Demetrus Liggins said it is possible to form a working group this summer to cast the net wider and gather additional input from students, families, community members, and other stakeholders -- both for short-term and long-term budget recommendations.

Building on the budget process that began in January, the committee's specific charge would be reviewing revenue sources, spending patterns, and other relevant components of the FCPS budget in an environment driven by facts, data, and evidence and rooted in our strategic priorities. The group would provide more meaningful feedback and conduct a thorough review of both the district’s short-term budget plans and long-range fiscal outlook with ongoing opportunities for public input and engagement.

All board members reached consensus in support of this approach. Board member Penny Christian emphasized the importance of ensuring that voices from Title I campuses and historically underrepresented communities are actively engaged in the process. Vice Chair Amy Green echoed this sentiment, stressing the need to broaden community input beyond the most vocal and frequent participants, and reminding the board that FCPS serves more than 330,000 constituents whose perspectives must be considered. Board member Monica Mundy inquired about creating a mechanism for the public to recommend individuals to serve on the stakeholder committee, helping ensure the group reflects a wide range of experiences and insights.

“FCPS takes pride in the progress we have made,” Murphy said. “We welcome every opportunity to engage with our community and expand awareness of how our investments are driving historic gains for students, staff, and families. It is important that as many voices as possible are part of these conversations, and we look forward to using additional avenues to highlight our progress and deepen public understanding of the work behind it. This pause allows those avenues for engagement and public education to expand, ensuring that more stakeholders are informed, included, and heard.”

The school board did not proceed with any additional steps related to the occupational license tax increase for the time being. The board expects to hear back from the new committee before having to finalize and submit the 2025-26 working budget to the Kentucky Department of Education in late September.