Reducing the contingency fund, closing schools, selling naming rights, creating revenue-generating programs, baling hay, deferring maintenance projects, and postponing technology purchases were among the short-term budget solutions suggested during the second meeting of a community work group tasked with examining school district finances and making recommendations to the Fayette County Board of Education.

Prior to the July 15th meeting, members of the panel submitted questions and requests for information, including details on employee salaries and benefits, future enrollment projections, and four years of budgets. After dividing into smaller discussion groups at the meeting, attendees skimmed more than 500 pages of materials to identify topics to consider further.

"Time is the enemy. We've got to have time," said one committee member, suggesting district leaders consider a temporary fix to the current issue of a potential $16 million difference between revenues and expenses for the 2025-26 fiscal year while the committee continues its work into the fall to identify long term solutions.

A June 30 announcement by the U.S. Department of Education freezing federal funds promised for several “title” programs across the nation has added another layer of complexity and unknowns, work group members noted. School districts in Kentucky had already received official allocation notices of $87 million and hired staff based on those federal assurances.

"Regardless of why we have this problem, it has to be solved, and our issue is significantly bigger than it was two weeks ago," said another group member. "I'm glad that this many people in Lexington are willing to come together to find a solution because our kids and our schools really matter."

• See for Yourself: All meetings are open to the public. Meetings are also recorded and available on the district's YouTube channel.
• Read for Yourself: All materials shared with the Budget Solutions Work Group are posted online, where you can also find the meeting summaries that are emailed to all staff and families.
• Tell Them Yourself: Submit questions, comments, suggestions, or concerns. All input is shared with the work group.