Fayette school officials reveal how many millions of dollars job cuts will save

Fayette school officials revealed Tuesday that the 120 job positions the cash-strapped district eliminated will save an estimated $11 million in the 2027 fiscal year budget.

District officials released the figure as part of written answers to budget questions posed at a live session last week.

District officials are restating or reissuing FY25 budget information because of incorrect information, so “these positions along with other reductions are to balance the FY27 tentative budget,” district officials said in one of their written answers.

“The personnel budget savings is approximately $11 million in positions. This personnel amount reflects the total compensation packages, not just base salaries. This includes the base salary plus all associated employer-paid benefits, such as health insurance, FICA, and retirement system contributions,” district officials said Tuesday.

The district’s proposed tentative $711 million general fund budget is based on the cuts. The total budget is $880 million.

FCPS released details last week on the 120 jobs it cut, consisting of 49 hourly and 71 salaried roles. Of the 71 salaried positions, 16 positions are administrators, district officials have said. In addition, various staff have had the number of days worked reduced. FCPS officials have previously said the reduction in work days will result in a $1.9 million savings.

The job eliminations caused much consternation among employees. They say the cuts will negatively affect students and academics, though district officials maintain that won’t happen as a result of the reductions.

District officials say finances have been misstated for decades. FCPS officials have said they plan to take out a short-term $110 million loan, which the district needs to make payroll come July 1. The district’s contingency fund balance is just 2%, the bare minimum under state law.

How much the district will have to pay to take out that loan is still being negotiated.

This is a developing story and will be updated.