JCPS warns of $2.5 billion in maintenance needs, rising costs amid budget deficit

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Jefferson County Public Schools Revenue Advisory Task Force met Monday evening to discuss the district’s $188 million deficit and long-term financial future.

The goal of the task force is to evaluate revenue sources. Monday's meeting, held at the VanHoose Education Center, focused on operations costs.

Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood opened the meeting by saying JCPS is not looking to increase taxes to fix the deficit. But, it is important to note the final decision lies with the school board.

Task force member David Beyer said there has been some confusion about the goal of the task force.

“He wants to work with the budget he has, the income he has,” Beyer said. “But then there was some mention that there’s some other things the school board needs that might necessitate raising taxes.”

Chief Operations Officer Rob Fulk presented an update on the district’s facilities and rising maintenance costs. He said deferred maintenance — the repairs delayed because of budget limits — now totals an estimated $2.5 billion.

From the 1950s through the 1970s, JCPS built about 100 new schools. Since then, only 23. Many of those older buildings now need major repairs, and Fulk said most JCPS schools are well past their 30- to 40-year lifespan.

“Ms. Shepard alluded to the rising cost of construction,” Fulk said. “We are seeing the effect now — our bids are coming in much higher than we had predicted three or four years ago.”

He said renovations typically cost about half as much as new construction, often focused on HVAC systems rather than quality-of-life improvements for students. But even renovation prices are climbing. Fulk said tariffs and material costs have driven up bids, and some projects have increased by millions in just a few years.

JCPS plans to build roughly 20 new schools in the next decade — a plan Fulk called “not aggressive enough.” He said the district may have to consider consolidating schools or building new ones in areas with population growth, like along Bardstown Road and in eastern Jefferson County.

Operating costs also vary widely, Fulk said, with elementary schools averaging about $23,000 per student each year.

JCPS is currently short $188 million, and district leaders said in mid-September that the situation is so severe they may be forced to sell a portion of an $80 million investment portfolio assets just to make payroll. It'll help the short-term pitfall, but that safety net will no longer be there.

Board Chair Corrie Shull said the board was misled, and financial leaders admitted they'd cut information from briefings — including organizational charts — because they didn't see it as "relevant."

Superintendent Brian Yearwood is asking the district to get several bids for companies to perform an audit. He’s proposed $132 million in cuts for the 2026–27 school year, mostly targeting the district’s central office. He said staff and teacher salaries in schools will not be affected.

In 2019, the district’s budget was $1.7 billion. Its current $2.3 billion budget is nearly double that of Louisville Metro government.

In August, the board voted to approve a new property tax for next year. The district said the change in property tax will generate an additional $36.5 million compared to last year, bringing the district's total estimated tax revenue to nearly $799 million. About $58.5 million of that will be used for capital projects and paying off bond debt, while the remaining $740 million will go into the General Fund for school operations.

Fulk said the district’s most immediate needs include buying millions in new buses, finishing turf field projects and raising pay for hourly workers like groundskeepers.

The district continues to vow transparency through this process.

Fulk declined an interview request by WDRB after the meeting.

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