AG Russell Coleman saved Fayette County from a tax hike scam | Opinion

When Fayette County Public Schools tried to pull a fast one on hardworking taxpayers, Attorney General Russell Coleman stepped in with a firm hand and the law on his side. We owe him our gratitude.

Let’s be crystal clear: the occupational tax FCPS attempted to push through was a problem from the start. The district tried to sneak in a tax increase on anyone working in Fayette County under the flimsy justification of “helping students.” But it wasn’t about students. It was about plugging the leaks in a bloated, mismanaged bureaucracy.

General Coleman did what FCPS refused to do: read the law and respect the people.

This wasn’t some minor technical error. The school district’s proposal violated state law. The board tried to deny our community the opportunity to weigh in before levying an extra $30 million in taxes every year. They assumed no one would stop them.

But General Coleman did. His AG opinion was swift, clear, and correct.

Fayette County Public Schools doesn’t have a revenue problem. It has a responsibility problem.

FCPS already receives more than $800 million a year. That’s right — nearly a billion dollars, every year. And yet, despite that mountain of money, our schools are failing students and families.

Where’s all that money going?

Apparently, not to the classroom. Administrative bloat is rampant. FCPS has added layer upon layer of high-paid bureaucrats while student outcomes stagnate. They love to hire “equity officers” and “climate consultants,” but ask them why kids can’t read at grade level, and they’ll throw around buzzwords and dodge real answers.

Before asking for another dime — illegally, no less — the district should explain why nearly half of Fayette County elementary students are not proficient in reading. Even more are behind in math. They should explain why we’re paying six-figure salaries to district staff who don’t work in schools. They should explain why, year after year, with more and more money, our results aren’t better.

Attorney General Coleman didn’t just stop an unlawful tax. He stopped a political con job.

Let’s not pretend this was about funding education. It was about power. FCPS wanted to expand its control — to bypass voters, punish local employers, and grab more cash with zero accountability. It was a direct assault on the working people of this county.

Attorney Coleman drew a line in the sand. And he sent a clear message: Public institutions must follow the law, even when they think no one’s watching. His decision protects not only our paychecks, but our democratic process.

If FCPS wants to raise taxes, they can do it the right way: bring it to the people. Make the case. Let voters decide.

And we the people made our voices clear in opposition. As a result, the tax hike is dead. The people have won — thanks to an attorney general who isn’t afraid to do his job.

Fayette County families deserve better. Our students deserve real education reform, not more empty slogans. And our taxpayers deserve leaders who respect the law — not ones who try to rewrite it behind closed doors.

Accountability is coming to FCPS. Auditor Allison Ball has launched a full audit of the district, and we eagerly await her findings. And I trust the leaders of our Republican supermajorities in the General Assembly to take a closer look at what’s happening in Fayette County.

So, thank you to Attorney General Russell Coleman for reminding Kentucky’s political class that the rule of law still matters. And here in Fayette County, we’re standing and cheering.

Fran Anderson is Chair of the Fayette County Republican Party.