KY auditor will consider latest investigation, violations while looking at FCPS

In her current examination of Fayette County Public Schools, Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball is considering the recent findings from an independent investigation that showed FCPS Superintendent Demetrus Liggins failed to exercise proper oversight of the district’s finance and budget departments.

The report, requested by the school board and written by attorney Leigh Latherow before being provided to media Monday, found Liggins violated multiple internal policies during the district’s budget problems last year.

Latherow found Liggins failed to keep the school board properly informed of the district’s budget situation and did not exercise proper oversight of the district’s finance and budget departments, including its expenses, forecasting and contingency fund tracking.

“We are taking the findings presented in the most recent investigation into consideration as we conduct our review,” a Thursday statement from Ball’s office said. Ball’s staff confirmed they were talking about the Latherow report.

Ball, a Republican, launched an investigation into FCPS last year. The district faces intense scrutiny and several investigations over spending and budgetary problems. The district approved an $827.2 million budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, but its contingency fund, or rainy day fund, has dwindled. The district previously said it was facing a since-resolved budget deficit of several million dollars.

The auditor’s office won’t say when it’s going to finish the audit.

“To preserve the integrity of our investigation and avoid any additional gamesmanship from the FCPS board, we feel it is necessary to avoid sharing the anticipated completion date at this time,” her staff said Thursday.

Liggins acknowledged making mistakes after Latherow’s investigation was completed.

“As superintendent, I relied too heavily on the leaders and team working in the area of budget and finance every day when I should have been asking sharper questions and demanding more comprehensive detail,” Liggins said in a statement. “... My leadership had been intentionally centered on student outcomes, academic growth and the overall health of our school system.

“While those priorities guided my focus, I regret that I was not more hands-on in the day-to-day operations of budget and finance.”

Liggins has said he now has direct oversight over those departments.

This story was originally published February 12, 2026 at 1:56 PM.