Fayette superintendent pledges to ‘get to the bottom’ of budget mess

With a state legislator joining the push for an independent forensic audit, Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins pledged at a Friday night public hearing to “get to the bottom” of the district’s budget crisis.

“I’m truly committed .. to finding out exactly how we ended up here and how we move forward,” said Liggins, superintendent since 2021.

“My commitment to you is to ensure we get to the bottom of this. Anything that we find that has not been done appropriately will be addressed.”

The superintendent added: “I’m realizing now I possibly could have asked a lot more questions. I certainly wanted to possibly have been told a lot more information. But I will tell you at the end of the day, it is ultimately my responsibility.

“Should I find out that things were not done in an appropriate manner, it is also my responsibility to make sure that is addressed and that is taken care of moving forward.”

Liggins said he understands and respects the criticisms people are aiming at the district’s financial situation, which includes a $16 million budget shortfall and a much smaller fund balance than expected.

The district had not been clear with the public about how much its fund balance has dwindled —from about $42 million to $26.3 million.

Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball has launched a “special examination” of the district.

“I am certainly being a lot more involved,” in the budget process, Liggins said.

“I have an organization with 9,000 employees. I have an organization where I am entrusted with trusting individuals that report to me. There’s no way I can do everybody’s job; that’s why I have a full staff,” he said.

At the public hearing, Rep. Anne Gay Donworth called for an independent forensic investigation of the school district, echoing a request this week from the nonprofit community group Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.

Professionals involved in a forensic audit dig through financial records to look for irregularities.

“To figure out how we got here, who is responsible, was it a clerical error over time that led to things, was it mismanagement, was it an accident? But we’ve got to have the answers to those and we’ve got to share them publicly,” the Lexington Democrat said.

“Transparency is a huge problem,” Donworth said. “Trust is something we’ve got to continue to rebuild. There’s something going on, and we’ve got to get to the bottom of it.”

Liggins said “due to personnel issues” he could not comment on the district’s internal investigation into the budget problems. He described the investigation as preliminary.

Budget Director

Brandon Voelker, an attorney for budget director Ann Sampson-Grimes wrote Liggins and school board chair Tyler Murphy a letter late last month saying her superiors ignored her warnings about the cash-strapped district’s budget problems. He said she was then placed on administrative leave in retaliation.

Voelker said Sampson-Grimes reported waste and advocated for budget cuts. However, she was ignored and prevented from talking to the five-member school board. Those board members are Liggins’ bosses.

On Tuesday, Voelker received an email from FCPS Chief Legal Officer Shelley D. Chatfield that said, “Ms. Grimes was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. This decision was made for legitimate non-discriminatory, non-retaliatory reasons. “

“Paid administrative leave is a standard practice when the District is investigating an issue of a serious nature and is consistent with the District’s policies and procedures, and due process. Such leave is not punitive but is intended to provide the District an opportunity to investigate the matter.”

“ While on paid administrative leave, Ms. Grimes continues to receive full pay and benefits and to accrue credit toward retirement. The investigation is ongoing, and we will contact you at some point to set up a meeting with your client.”

Voelker on Saturday told the Herald-Leader that placing Sampson-Grimes on leave is in complete violation of district policy.

Voelker said Liggins “continues to assert they had no idea of issues when he was told since (the) beginning of 2024.”

The bottom line said Voelker, is that Liggins and his leadership team are putting their “heads in the sand and refusing to follow required guidance and simply stop over spending .”

“You would think if the board truly wanted to get to what is being termed ‘ the bottom’ they would have already asked to hear what my client advised the superintendent and his top staff ,” Voelker said.

‘This mess’

Liggins, whose total compensation in the 2024-2025 school year was $381, 767, said Friday night his focus is on making sure the school district is financially sound and doing what’s best for students.

“When you lose support from people like me, you are in trouble,“ retired educator Deborah Gerth told school board members at the hearing. “This mess looks to me like what you get when you manage for (public relations) PR and not for mission.”

”I do not know if the (budget) confusion is from carelessness or malfeasance, but as a fan of public education, I find it disturbing and disappointing,” she said.

Liggins said the district is working daily to ensure students get what they need to be successful. The district has about 41,465 students.

“It is a challenge that the district is facing, and we have to be committed to moving forward,” said school board chairman Tyler Murphy. He and Liggins have faced the heaviest criticism for the financial struggles of FCPS.

When one person in the audience interrupted the meeting with outbursts more than once, Liggins threatened to have them removed.

Liggins at the hearing answered some questions that some community members sent to the school district. He said 55 positions at the John D. Price Central Office are not being filled for a total savings of $3.789 million.

The board will review a proposed working budget at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the school board planning meeting.

Members will not make a final decision on the budget, which was previously projected at $848 million, at that meeting, Murphy said.

This story was originally published September 6, 2025 at 11:33 AM.