Latest news with #FayetteCountyPublicSchools
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Beshear's Pre-K for All initiative aims to close achievement gap, boost workforce
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) — State leaders met in Louisville on Wednesday to celebrate the launch of an initiative that aims to advance the commonwealth's public education system and economy. According to a news release, the Pre-K for All initiative is projected to grow Kentucky's workforce by up to 70,000 people while providing a higher quality education for future generations. State statistics showed that during the 2023 academic year, 53.8% of Kentucky's children were unprepared when they showed up for their first day of kindergarten. Kentucky AG: Fayette County Public Schools violated law in attempted tax hike 'Before they even step through the door, they are behind. This creates an achievement gap that is nearly impossible to close,' Gov. Beshear said. 'To increase kindergarten-readiness, we need to offer pre-K for every 4-year-old across the state of Kentucky.' Beshear noted during Wednesday's event in Louisville that 18 states, including Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, and West Virginia, offer pre-K access for all 4-year-olds. The governor reportedly issued an executive order on Wednesday creating the Team Kentucky Pre-K for All Advisory Committee, consisting of 28 members from across the state with 'a broad range of experience in business, workforce development, and education.' Kentucky considers new area code as 502 nears exhaustion Corbin woman accused of shooting into air across state highway, parking lot Nicholasville police investigating overnight 'armed robbery' near Shun Pike Beshear said that data from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services shows that of Kentucky's 120 counties, nearly two-thirds don't have access to enough child care to serve each family who needs it, with the majority of those located in eastern Kentucky. More information about Beshear's June 4 executive order, including those appointed to the PreK for All Advisory Committee, can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
KY attorney general says Fayette school board didn't give public notice before tax vote
(Fayette County Public Schools) Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman's office says the Fayette County Public Schools board failed to give proper public notice before voting to increase occupational taxes within the district. The opinion released Wednesday said the board violated state open meetings laws, which says school districts must publish a notice about tax proposals in a local newspaper at least a week before meeting to vote on the proposal. The attorney general's office also refuted a recent claim by the school district to local media outlets that the state law doesn't apply to the tax increase because it is a 'county-level tax' also needing approval from the Fayette County Fiscal Court. The opinion said state law 'expressly recognizes that levying an occupational license tax is a power shared jointly by the School Board and the Fiscal Court.' It adds that a fiscal court vote could not happen unless the school board 'certified' the new tax rate. 'Accordingly, when the School Board properly certifies a new rate, the Fiscal Court's role is ministerial; the discretion and decision-making power lies with the School Board — which is why it is the body that must give public notice prior to voting on whether to impose the additional tax,' the opinion said. 'Therefore, it is the opinion of this Office that the Fayette County School Board's May 27 vote to increase the occupational license tax was unlawful.' The board voted 3-2 to approve the tax increase of 0.25% about a week ago. The tax rate would have taken effect in January. The board approved a $848 million proposed budget with the tax increase that would cost residents an average of $13 more per month, local media outlets reported. However, Coleman's office wrote the resolution for the tax increase 'is void and of no effect.' 'Tax and spend government is a danger to Kentucky's future, especially when officials who should be accountable to Fayette County voters try to ignore the rules to raise taxes,' Coleman said in a statement. 'If the Fayette County School Board members believe they need more of Kentuckians' hard-earned dollars, they should clearly and publicly make their case before their own constituents.' Based in Lexington, Fayette County Public Schools is the second largest school district in the state with more than 41,000 students. Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, a Lexington Republican, requested Coleman's office review the legality of the school board's vote. 'This validates what so many in our community, including myself, felt: Taxpayers were shut out of a huge decision about their own tax dollars,' Bledsoe said. 'I'm calling on the Fiscal Court to take no action today and for the school board to remedy this misuse of its authority. The board should table any further discussion of a tax increase until trust can be restored.' Consideration of the school board's tax increase request is on the agenda for the fiscal court's Thursday meeting. An FCPS representative did not immediately return an emailed request for comment Wednesday.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
London man arrested after allegedly weaving in traffic without headlights, taking deputies on chase
LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) — A Laurel County man was arrested Saturday after allegedly recklessly weaving in traffic without any headlights on the Hal Rogers Parkway in the dark and then leading deputies on a chase. According to the Laurel County Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested 33-year-old Lyle Hammons on Hal Rogers Parkway near the intersection of US 25 in London after a deputy allegedly tried to stop him, but he continued driving eastbound on Hal Rogers Parkway, nearly hitting a police cruiser. Fayette County Public Schools speaks out on $32K ice cream invoice amid tax hike, spending discourse Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul says future FEMA funding could be impacted by cost of 'Big, Beautiful Bill' London man arrested after allegedly weaving in traffic without headlights, taking deputies on chase The department said the vehicle came to an abrupt stop around 7:19 p.m. at the intersection of US 25 in London, and Hammons was arrested. Hammons was charged with reckless driving, wanton endangerment—second degree; disregarding a traffic control device—traffic light; no headlamps; and fleeing or evading police—first degree—motor vehicle. Study shows Kentucky among the poorest states Kentucky's most misspelled word, according to study Drug overdoses see major decline: How Kentucky measures up Hammons was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul says future FEMA funding could be impacted by cost of ‘Big, Beautiful Bill'
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — With the agency on President Trump's wish list for cuts, Sen. Rand Paul told reporters Monday he believed there is a 'role' for FEMA to play in responding to natural disasters like the ones that took place in London and Somerset last month. However, Paul said he wants to make sure the federal government has a way to pay for the agency without adding more debt. 'We are willing to do what we can to make it better. I know it takes a long time,' Sen. Paul told a gathering of first responders and local leaders at the London-Corbin Airport on Monday. Fayette County Public Schools speaks out on $32K ice cream invoice amid tax hike, spending discourse Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul says future FEMA funding could be impacted by cost of 'Big, Beautiful Bill' London man arrested after allegedly weaving in traffic without headlights, taking deputies on chase As the cleanup continues around the site, which took a direct hit from the tornado, there are some mangled buildings and rubble piles that look like the disaster happened just yesterday. Sen. Paul joined local leaders in London and Somerset to simply say 'thanks' to first responders, now only just able to catch a breath as their communities recover. 'From trying to find survivors to recovering bodies to then trying to help clear rubble. In the days preceding that, these same responders that hadn't slept, from doing the emergency services became a neighbor,' London Mayor Randall Weddle said. 'From having visited Mayfield through the years, it's taken several years to come back, but you will come back,' Paul said. Study shows Kentucky among the poorest states Kentucky's most misspelled word, according to study Drug overdoses see major decline: How Kentucky measures up Paul assured that the federal government will help where it can with recovery. With President Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' the next big item on the Senate agenda, Paul said future FEMA funding isn't necessarily a part of the bill's debate but believed that funding could be affected by the bill's overall cost. 'I think the debt is a real problem. So, you talk about how do we fund FEMA when we have an interest payment of $1 trillion? That kind of expanding need is pushing out expenses like FEMA which most people agree needs to be there during times of disaster. But if we keep borrowing more, that interest payment keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger,' Paul told FOX 56. Paul said he will not support the president's budget reconciliation bill unless it no longer raises the debt ceiling, prompting Trump to publish social media criticism over the weekend. 'If Senator Rand Paul votes against our Great, Big, Beautiful Bill, he is voting for, along with the Radical Left Democrats, a 68% tax increase and, perhaps even more importantly, a first-time-ever default on U.S. debt. Rand will be playing right into the hands of the Democrats, and the GREAT people of Kentucky will never forgive him,' Trump said in a post on his social media platform. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fayette school board: We support plan to seek more tax dollars from county workers
Despite opposition, a split Fayette County school board Tuesday approved a resolution seeking an increase to the occupational license tax rate to help tackle a $16 million budget deficit. The Fayette County Public Schools board voted 3-2 to ask the Fayette Fiscal Court to increase the occupational license tax rate for schools from 0.5% to 0.75% of wages of individuals and net profits of businesses. District leaders predict the tax hike would cost about $13 per month for the average Fayette County worker. The tax increase will not impact retirees who are not currently working, and Social Security benefits are not subject to the tax. Board members Monica Mundy and Amanda Ferguson voted against the resolution. Penny Christian, Amy Green and board chair Tyler Murphy supported it. 'We have to do right by these kids,' Christian said. Earlier in May, district officials said all department budgets will be reduced by 20% to help address rising costs, but another $16 million must be cut from the general fund budget. Fayette Deputy Superintendent Houston Barber said at Tuesday's meeting the district needs to maintain investments in the classroom, it has insufficient revenue to cover inflationary increases, and must make long-term investments in the district and for student achievement. Most of the district's money, he said, covers personnel salaries and benefits. A balanced tentative budget must be submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education by Friday. Barber said the district has already cut $8.9 million at the district level. There have been $1 million in reductions in positions at Central Office through attrition. The district has cut non-campus departmental budgets by 20%, implemented tighter travel limitations moving forward, and eliminated non-essential overtime pay. Barber gave examples of the changes in expenditures from 2019 to 2025. The costs of salaries have increased from $278 million to $389.2 million and employee benefits from $28.1 million to $41.4 million. Raising new revenue and reducing expenditures are necessary for the proposed tentative $848 million budget for fiscal year 2026, officials said. The current occupational license tax is expected to bring in $57 million to the district for the next fiscal year. Initially, the increase in January 2026 would be $13 million to $16 million with an estimated $27 million to $32 million annually when fully implemented, Barber said. He described an occupational license tax as a payroll tax on wages earned in Fayette County. It is paid by employees who live and work in the county. It is not tied to property ownership. Barber said he was recommending the increase be approved Tuesday in part because a balanced tentative budget is due to the Kentucky Department of Education by Friday. Under state law, the resolution must be processed by the Fayette fiscal court within 10 days of the board passing the resolution. 'This is the way to do it,' Barber said. He said the district would continue to monitor expenses and create a task force of stakeholders to make recommendations for additional efficiencies. The resolution says that present revenue sources will not be sufficient to provide for the building of enough classrooms for thousands of school children, or to furnish adequate school services for all public school children in Fayette County. Any county with 300,000 residents or more can take the 0.75% occupational tax rate, according to the resolution. Jefferson County Public Schools receives revenue from an occupational license tax rate of 0.75 %, district spokesperson Mark Hebert confirmed Tuesday morning. The Fayette school board usually funds schools through property taxes. Unlike the occupational tax, which is overseen by Fayette County Fiscal Court under language from the 1974 merger that formed the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, the school board can set property tax rates higher to get more revenue. However, they can only take 4% more than the year before without it being subject to recall. Thanks to Fayette's continuously growing property assessments, they can often receive a 4% increase without raising the tax rate. Even at the same tax rate, Fayette gets more money. Board members Monica Mundy and Amanda Ferguson said they did not learn about the proposal to raise the occupational license tax until the Memorial Day weekend. Mundy said there should be a public hearing and then a special meeting for a vote at a later date so that the public could express their views about the tax increase. Board chair Tyler Murphy said budget discussions began in January and 'there have been avenues for public engagement.' Ferguson made a motion to table the vote pending the June school board planning meeting. Mundy voted with Ferguson, but the motion failed when three other board members voted against it. Superintendent Demetrus Liggins said he did not know the consequences for not submitting the tentative budget in May to the Kentucky Department of Education. Green, the board's vice chair, said the occupational license tax increase would keep investments in the classroom. She also said she did not think there would be time for a public hearing given that a balanced tentative budget must be sent to the Kentucky Department of Education by the end of May. The Fayette Public Schools tax collection office would administer and collect the occupational license tax rate, the resolution says. Fayette County Judge Executive Mary Diane Hanna told the Herald-Leader the occupational tax for schools is currently imposed by the Fayette County Public School district at a rate of one-half of one percent (0.5%). The Fayette County Board of Education can request the Fayette County Fiscal Court to levy a special occupational license tax which can increase by one-quarter of one percent (0.25%), Hanna said. Hanna said Sunday that the resolution could be on the docket for a special meeting of the fiscal court. It may be too late to get it on the docket for a June 5 meeting. She said Tuesday night in an email that 'I have referred this entire matter to legal counsel who will advise me/us on this issue.' At an Urban County Council work session Tuesday before the school board vote, Lexington council member Whitney Elliot Baxter asked Lexington Fayette Urban County Government Interim Commissioner of Law David Barberie about the school district's effort to increase the occupational license tax. 'We don't represent the fiscal court, but our reading of the statute would be that their role is merely to rubber stamp it. They don't really have the meaningful opportunity to push back on this,' Barberie said. Several people in the community spoke for and against the tax increase in front of a packed school board meeting room. Whit Whitaker, President of the Lexington-Fayette NAACP, was among those who spoke in favor of the resolution. LFUCG Council member Emma Curtis said she came to city council to speak in favor of collective bargaining, but she also wanted to express her concern with the process around the payroll tax. 'I'm here to encourage good government,' she said. 'I don't think the way the public was made aware of this tax was fully transparent.' 'City Council as a body has worked to increase transparency and public engagement. It's inconceivable that an elected body would go about this process in a way that intentionally cuts the public out of it.' Michael Hawse is chair of Young Democrats and sits on the board of Fayette Democratic Party who said he came to speak to the resolution they passed in support of collective bargaining. But speaking as an individual, he said. 'These issues can be difficult, but one thing the board should understand is that the public needs to have all the information.' Fayette County Public Schools remains in solid financial standing, Barber has said. Aside from the occupational license tax for schools, Susan Straub, spokesperson for Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, said Tuesday that the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government assesses an occupational license fee of 2.25 %. The fee applies to an individual's compensation and a businesses net profit. The city started collecting that payroll tax in 1980 and it has stayed at 2.25 % since 1992. It currently generates $276 million, which makes up 55.2 percent of the city's general fund budget, Straub said. Staff writer Kendall Staton contributed to this article.
