Fayette Schools Chief Accepts Blame for $16 Million Shortfall as Lawmakers Scrutinize Spending

Overview

• Testifying under oath, Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins said the buck stops with him and acknowledged he did not probe deeply enough when first alerted to the gap.
• Legislators cited roughly $60,000 in Liggins’ travel reimbursements and questioned a 2022 Australia trip, with one receipt totaling about $7,000.
• Lawmakers pointed to a contingency fund that fell from $82.5 million in 2024 to an ending balance of $14.8 million in 2025.
• A special school board meeting is scheduled to consider authorizing an external operational audit, with a vote on a new working budget expected next week.
• Liggins said the proposed budget balances revenue and expenses without raising taxes or cutting classroom support, and he pledged to share findings from ongoing internal and external investigations.