By Jeff Vorva

This isn’t some magic trick.

This isn’t a case of – poof – all financial troubles just disappearing.

The Beecher 200-U referendum from the April 4 election unofficially passed, and it will help ease a $1 million deficit and avoid many painful cuts.

However…

Superintendent Jack Gaham wasn’t taking a victory lap.

At the board’s April 12 meeting, he was thankful for the voters and parents who helped get the word out, especially when a similar referendum was rejected in 2022.

While the big picture is brighter, Gaham said there are still a few financial problems to face before the money from this referendum victory kicks in.

“I know I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this is for the (fiscal year 2024) levy,” he said. “Your tax year ’25 is when they are going to collect it.

“That means the next budget approved by the next board will have the old levy that is being collected right now, and we will be at a deficit next year. I want to make sure everybody is aware of that. When September rolls around and I present to you a deficit budget…I’m telling you right now there will be a deficit budget.”

He said with the cuts that have already been made, it will be a smaller deficit than anticipated.

“When the revenue comes in during (fiscal year 2025), it’s going to look really good for Beecher 200-U, and we will be very solid for at least the next decade,” he said.

But in 2023 and 2024, there will not be a shopping spree. Spending will remain tight.

“We are not going to suddenly start putting everything back and spending all of the money,” Gaham said. “I can’t stress that enough.

“The board has the authority to spend any money you want. But you are not going to get a lot of recommendations from me to start throwing things back in there and spending lots of money again. It’s not going to happen. It’s not my mentality.”

He said that until the budget is in the black, freshman sports will be cut, there will be registration fees, and other cost-cutting measures.

There was a second list of cuts created in case the referendum failed, which included the elimination of junior varsity and seventh-grade sports, plus summer activities.

Those are all safe, Gaham said. He added that the art position at the high school is also safe, so art courses will continue.

Gym open

Beecher High School Principal Mike Meyer said the main gym floor, damaged by flooding on Christmas Day, has been replaced and is back in use.

“Hopefully, it will only be a couple more weeks before we go back into the small gym again,” he told the board. “We truly appreciate what you guys have done.”

Comings and goings

The board approved the retirements of junior high school aides Laura Kaufman and Cathy Jansma.

It also approved the resignations of custodian James Banasiak and junior high school cheerleading coach Holly Trudeau.

The board approved the hiring of full-time bus driver Scott McGraw.