Jefferson County Public Schools has released a first draft of proposed budget cuts as the district faces a $188 million shortfall.The district announced last year it was facing the massive deficit and was looking at ways to reduce it for the 2026-27 school year.”I inherited $188 million structural deficit. That deficit did not happen overnight. It’s a result of years of systemic fiscal unsustainability, well-intended decisions made without long term funding plans in the past six years alone, 255 central office positions were added and initiatives initiatives launched that relied heavily on temporary funding,” JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood said. “When those funds expire, the cost remains recurring. Expenses outpaced reoccurring revenue, and the math stopped working.”JCPS held a public meeting Wednesday with the Audit and Risk Management Advisory Council to discuss the first draft of cuts.The first set of proposed cuts total $142 million and are as follows: $44 million from central office. This includes eliminating about 300 positions and a reorganization of District departments and leadership. $41 million from school budget funds that are not directly tied to student instruction. $30 million from ongoing union negotiations. (This number will likely change as negotiations proceed.) $13 million from Operations and Transportation. $9 million from contracts and subscriptions$5 million from facilities and underutilized assets.Employees whose roles are being eliminated will be notified before May 15, according to JCPS.During the process, Yearwood has said the cuts would not affect teachers.“This is a new day for JCPS, rooted in financial accountability,” Yearwood said. “To fulfill our duty to students, teachers, families, and taxpayers, we have to make difficult decisions, including eliminating positions and programs that no longer align with our essential obligations as a school district.”However, Yearwood said Wednesday that closing schools down is not off the table.This first draft will be discussed at several JCPS Board meetings until the approval of the working budget in September.The JCPS Board will have to approve the cuts before they are finalized.
Jefferson County Public Schools has released a first draft of proposed budget cuts as the district faces a $188 million shortfall.
The district announced last year it was facing the massive deficit and was looking at ways to reduce it for the 2026-27 school year.
“I inherited $188 million structural deficit. That deficit did not happen overnight. It’s a result of years of systemic fiscal unsustainability, well-intended decisions made without long term funding plans in the past six years alone, 255 central office positions were added and initiatives initiatives launched that relied heavily on temporary funding,” JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood said. “When those funds expire, the cost remains recurring. Expenses outpaced reoccurring revenue, and the math stopped working.”
JCPS held a public meeting Wednesday with the Audit and Risk Management Advisory Council to discuss the first draft of cuts.
The first set of proposed cuts total $142 million and are as follows:
- $44 million from central office. This includes eliminating about 300 positions and a reorganization of District departments and leadership.
- $41 million from school budget funds that are not directly tied to student instruction.
- $30 million from ongoing union negotiations. (This number will likely change as negotiations proceed.)
- $13 million from Operations and Transportation.
- $9 million from contracts and subscriptions
- $5 million from facilities and underutilized assets.
Employees whose roles are being eliminated will be notified before May 15, according to JCPS.
During the process, Yearwood has said the cuts would not affect teachers.
“This is a new day for JCPS, rooted in financial accountability,” Yearwood said. “To fulfill our duty to students, teachers, families, and taxpayers, we have to make difficult decisions, including eliminating positions and programs that no longer align with our essential obligations as a school district.”
However, Yearwood said Wednesday that closing schools down is not off the table.
This first draft will be discussed at several JCPS Board meetings until the approval of the working budget in September.
The JCPS Board will have to approve the cuts before they are finalized.
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