Beecher School District Moves to Tier 2 State Funding, Finalizes Balanced Budget

Article Summary: Beecher School District 200-U has officially moved into Tier 2 of the state’s Evidence-Based Funding model, a sign of improved financial health, Superintendent Dr. Jack Gaham announced Wednesday. The news came as the board reviewed its balanced Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which is set for a public hearing and final vote on September 10.

FY26 Budget Key Points:

• The district’s funding adequacy level has risen from 69% to 80.1%, elevating it from Tier 1 to Tier 2.

• The proposed budget is balanced, with revenues and expenditures both around $18.4 million and a projected surplus of $3,600.

• A 2% increase in Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax (CPPRT) revenue will be sufficient to cover the district’s debt certificate payments.

BEECHER, IL – The Beecher School District 200-U has achieved a significant financial milestone, moving up from Tier 1 to Tier 2 in the state’s school funding formula, Superintendent Dr. Jack Gaham reported during Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting.

The upgrade is a result of the district’s adequacy level—a measure of its ability to fund essential programs with local and state resources—climbing from 69% to 80.1%. While moving to Tier 2 means the district will receive slightly less state aid, Gaham called it “awesome” news that shows the district is “going in the right direction.”

The announcement came during an update on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which is projected to be balanced with a small surplus of $3,600. The budget was first presented at a Finance Committee meeting in July and will be up for a public hearing and final approval at the board’s September 10 meeting.

Gaham also shared positive news regarding Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax (CPPRT) revenue, which saw a 2% bump. The increase will provide enough funds to cover the district’s debt certificate payments, with the remainder allocated to the Operations and Maintenance fund.

The budget allocates funds for major projects, such as a $215,000 window replacement at the elementary school, by drawing from restricted accounts like the Life Safety fund rather than the general education fund.