Jefferson County Public Schools has released the first draft of proposed budget cuts as the district faces a $188 million shortfall. The district announced last year that it was facing a large deficit and was looking at ways to reduce it for the 2026-27 school year. “I inherited a structural deficit of $188 million. That deficit did not happen overnight. It is the result of years of systemic fiscal unsustainability and well-intentioned decisions made without a long-term funding plan over the past six years alone.255 Central office positions were added and initiatives began that relied heavily on one-time funding,” said JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood. “As these funds expire, the costs become recurring. Expenses exceed recurring revenues and the calculations no longer work.” JCPS held a public meeting with its Audit and Risk Management Advisory Committee on Wednesday to discuss the first draft of the cuts. The first round of proposed cuts totals $142 million, broken down as follows: $44 million from the central office; This includes the reduction of approximately 300 positions and the restructuring of district departments and leadership. $41 million from school budgets not directly related to student instruction. $30 million from ongoing union negotiations. (This number may change as negotiations progress.) $13 million from operations and transportation. $9 million from contracts and subscriptions and $5 million from facilities and underutilized assets. JCPS says employees whose roles will be eliminated will be notified by May 15. In the process, Yearwood said the cuts would not affect teachers. “This is a new day for JCPS, rooted in fiscal responsibility,” Yearwood said. “In order to meet our obligations to our students, teachers, families, and taxpayers, we must make difficult decisions, including eliminating positions and programs that are no longer consistent with our essential obligations as a school district.” However, Yearwood said Wednesday that closing schools is not off the table. This first draft will be discussed at several JCPS board meetings until the implementation budget is approved in September. The JCPS Board must approve the cuts before they are finalized.
Jefferson County Public Schools has released the first draft of proposed budget cuts as the district faces a $188 million shortfall.
The district announced last year that it was facing a large deficit and was looking at ways to reduce it for the 2026-27 school year.
“I inherited a structural deficit of $188 million. That deficit did not arise overnight. It is the result of years of systemic fiscal unsustainability, and in the last six years alone, well-intentioned decisions made without a long-term funding plan, the addition of 255 central office positions, and the launch of initiatives that rely heavily on one-time funding,” said JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood. “When those funds expire, the costs become recurring. Expenses exceed recurring revenue, and the math no longer works.”
JCPS held a public meeting with its Audit and Risk Management Advisory Committee on Wednesday to discuss the first draft of the cuts.
The initial proposed cuts total $142 million and include:
- $44 million from the central office. This includes the reduction of approximately 300 positions and the restructuring of district departments and leadership.
- $41 million from school budgets not directly related to student instruction.
- $30 million from ongoing union negotiations. (This number may change as negotiations progress.)
- $13 million from operations and transportation;
- 9 million dollars From contracts and subscriptions
- $5 million from facilities and underutilized assets.
Employees whose roles will be eliminated will be notified by May 15, JCPS said.
In the process, Yearwood said the cuts would not affect teachers.
“Today is a new day for JCPS, rooted in fiscal accountability,” Yearwood said. “In order to meet our obligations to our students, teachers, families, and taxpayers, we must make difficult decisions, including eliminating positions and programs that are no longer consistent with our essential obligations as a school district.”
But Yearwood said Wednesday that school closures are not off the table.
This first draft will be discussed at several JCPS board meetings until the implementation budget is approved in September.
The JCPS Board of Directors must approve the reduction before it is finalized.