FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue committee took the first steps Tuesday in drafting a budget for the next two years. The committee, consisting of both Republican and Democrat representatives, heard from the state’s constitutional officers.

What You Need To Know

  • Newly elected state auditor Allison Ball wants $1.5 million for a state audit into the finances and operations of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS)

  • Ball said she wants to find out where money is being spent and if JCPS is a "safe" place to attend and work 

  • The last state audit of JCPS was in 2014 under then-auditor Adam Edelen 

  • JCPS has responded to six audits since 2017 and is currently doing an external audit on its busing 

Newly elected state auditor Allison Ball said she wants a full audit on Kentucky’s largest school district, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) and is requesting $1.5 million from the state's budget to do so. Ball told the committee that busing issues and “significant findings” in the last audit a decade ago are appropriate reasons to examine the district.

“It would be my preference if we could shoulder some of the cost so we don’t put it all on JCPS because I want to do this right and well," Ball said.

Ball said she has two main questions she wants to see answered through an audit: where money is being spent and whether JCPS a safe district to attend and work.

“I think the big-ticket item that I want to see, is what is going to the classroom and what is going to administrative costs," Ball said. "[Safety] includes school buses; it includes violence in the classroom. It includes disciplinary action, some things we are seeing across the country that are happening in school systems right now.”

The last state audit of JCPS was in 2014 under then-auditor Adam Edelen. Last September, GOP lawmakers requested an audit to then-auditor, Mike Harmon.

State Rep. Ken Fleming, R-Louisville, said he would support an audit of JCPS citing concerns brought to him from constituents.

“It’s been 10 years, so we need to go through and update and look to see where things are and see where things stand in terms of the policies and procedures," Fleming said.

However, State Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, said she does not understand the rationale behind the push for a full audit of the district as JCPS has undergone six since 2017.

Bojanowski, a classroom teacher, said the biggest issues facing JCPS are truancy, teacher retention and students living in poverty.

“Those are areas that are concerning to me," Bojanowski said. "If it doesn’t address those issues, then I would prefer to take that money and put it toward the classrooms, where I know we could get direct benefit out of the money."

Ball said the audit would begin as soon as possible. She added she expects it going into next year so it can be as thorough as possible.

A JCPS spokesperson sent Spectrum News a statement regarding the request for an audit, reading: 

"JCPS has undergone and effectively responded to six audits and reviews since 2017. JCPS is also currently engaging in an independent audit of our transportation system. While we will certainly cooperate with any review that the State Auditor wishes to conduct, we hope it would provide an unbiased, non-political view of JCPS focusing on items that have not been addressed in recent audits and reviews. 

We appreciate Auditor Ball’s comments that Jefferson County taxpayers should not be forced to pay for a state-requested audit. If there is an audit, we hope to see its full costs included in the state budget."

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