I want to take a moment to update you directly on the District’s current budget situation and the steps we are taking to ensure long-term financial sustainability for JCPS. These are challenging times, and we deeply appreciate your continued dedication to our students and your resilience as we navigate this together.
What Is the Actual Deficit?
The current JCPS budget deficit stands at $188 million.
While the total deficit is $188 million, the most immediate focus is on the $132 million in reductions that I have directed for the upcoming fiscal year.
Why Are We in This Situation?
In recent years, JCPS was able to rely on one-time funding sources. These included prior budget surpluses and federal COVID-19 relief funds. These funds allowed the District to maintain services during an exceptionally difficult period.
However, those funds are no longer available. We must now return to a balanced and sustainable budget model. This shift requires careful reductions to maintain financial health and ensure compliance with state law.
How Were the Funds Used?
The temporary funding enabled investments in high-impact programs and urgent needs, including:
School Security Administrators and School Resource Officers (per state law)
School Nurses in every building
Mental Health Practitioners
Choice Zone stipends for teachers and administrators
Incentive pay for bus drivers
Racial Equity programs and staffing
It also supported several one-time expenses:
Chromebooks for a 1:1 student-to-device ratio
Weapons detectors in middle and high schools
Audio Enhancement classroom technology
Campus upgrades, including playgrounds and turf fields
Updated curriculum aligned with new state law
What Are We Doing Now?
I have outlined three guiding principles that will shape all budget decisions moving forward:
Minimize impact on school-based staff salaries. There will be no reductions in base daily pay for staff working directly in schools.
Prioritize central office reductions. Budget cuts will begin with the central office, which will bear a large share of the reductions.
Preserve the student experience. The quality of instruction and learning in classrooms will be safeguarded throughout this process.
The District is currently taking the following actions:
Evaluating all programs for outcomes and redundancy
Reviewing organizational charts for possible consolidations
Analyzing vendor contracts to identify non-essential costs
Requesting every division chief to submit proposed reductions for review
While base pay is protected, other forms of compensation—including stipends, incentive pay, and extra-duty pay—are under review and may be reduced or eliminated. These decisions are being made thoughtfully and strategically to minimize disruption to schools.
What’s Next?
We’re temporarily freezing purchases across the District in five key areas: Educational Consultants (0322), Other Professional Services (0349), Other Equipment (0739), Technology Related Hardware (0734) and Furniture and Fixtures (0733). We chose these items based on trends of large and potentially duplicative purchases. This freeze will conclude once the District has established a new review process to approve these purchases, which we expect to happen within the next few weeks.
A draft budget will be presented to the Jefferson County Board of Education in January, providing a transparent view of our financial outlook. A tentative budget will be formally adopted in May, as required by state law, so schools can prepare effectively for the 2026–27 school year.
We are also launching a JCPS Financial Stability web page. This resource will be updated regularly with key documents, FAQs, and other important information to keep you informed.