State lawmakers file school finance transparency bill amid JCPS budget crisis

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — As Jefferson County Public Schools works through a major budget crisis, state lawmakers are pushing for changes they say would give the public clearer insight into how school districts spend taxpayer dollars.

The proposal was sparked by large budget deficits this year in both Jefferson and Fayette counties, raising questions about where the money went and how warning signs were missed.

"Really looking at what was being exposed and the amount of money that was unaccounted for we started to talk amongst ourselves… how do we put come financial barriers in place some transparency measures so we can see this budgeting process as it moves through," State Sen. Lindsey Tichenor said.

State Sen. Lindsey Tichenor filed Senate Bill 3. The bill would require school districts to post monthly financial reports, vendor payments, credit card statements, and superintendent compensation online in one centralized location on their websites.

"Currently you can dig around and find some of this information but its not all easily accessible to the public," Tichenor said. "I think it's really going to require them to be more accountable to the money."

Right now, Jefferson County Public Schools does have a public finance dashboard that meets some of those requirements, including showing vendor payments. However, it does not include monthly financial reports or credit card statements.

The bill would also require districts to provide school board members with a copy of the proposed budget at least two weeks before a public budget meeting. This year, multiple board members told WDRB they received the proposed budget one week before the meeting.

Tichenor said lawmakers consulted with school districts while drafting the bill, but not JCPS. She said conversations with the district have taken place since then.

WDRB asked JCPS for its response to the proposed legislation. The district did not respond.

When asked whether the current JCPS budget crisis might have been prevented if the law had been in place a decade ago, Tichenor said, "I would hope that it would've prevented it when you have accountability and transparency you would handle your money in a much different way."

Tichenor said she anticipates bipartisan support for the bill.

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