Oakton board OKs $68.5 mil. in upgrades for Des Plaines campus

The Oakton Community College Board Tuesday night approved a five-year master plan calling for $68.5 million in new construction and renovation projects at the Des Plaines campus.

The college, which currently has zero debt, proposes to issue $40 million in construction bonds that will likely be repaid within a 10- to 15-year time frame, use $20 million in cash reserves, and raise tuition to cover the cost of construction of new facilities. A small portion of the improvements would be funded through federal, state and private grants.

Officials said it is because of past austerity measures that the college has a healthy fund balance of roughly $90 million.

“We can clearly afford this,” Oakton President Margaret Lee said. “We've been fiscally conservative. We've been responsible stewards. We don't want to spend our whole fund balance. The reality of the situation is we are looking at 5 to 7 years of austerity. We have kept this place in wonderful shape but space matters ... the quality of space affects the quality of learning.”

The college, which has the lowest tax rate in the state among Illinois community colleges, will remain the lowest even with the debt issuance, which would raise the tax rate 7 percent, said Carl Costanza, vice president of business and finance.

The rate increase would mean the owner of a $257,500 home currently paying $154 would pay an additional $11 in taxes yearly, according to the college.

The master plan involves constructing a new $39 million science and health career building replacing 30-year old laboratories, remodeling and upgrading roughly 45 classrooms including replacing the old science wing with 10 new classrooms, and building a new enrollment center and a new student gathering center.

Costanza said students themselves have collected roughly $450,000 for the new student center.

“We don't have a dedicated space for students,” Lee said. “The students of the past have saved up for this center. We are looking at students in the present and future who will enjoy this space.”

College board members said they would approve the $2 per credit hour construction fee increase as long as a sunset clause is built into it.

Lee said the administration has always been conscientious of not placing undue financial burden on students.

Charging $2.60 per credit hour and no other fees, Oakton currently has the second lowest tuition and fees among comparable community colleges. Officials are proposing a $2 per credit hour fee increase specifically to fund the construction.

“We have deliberately kept our tuition low,” Lee said. “We don't fee students to death. But the fact of the matter is the money has to come from somewhere.”

College administrators also have proposed an additional $3 per credit hour general tuition increase, but board members did not warm up to the idea.

“I would like to see other options for providing that funding,” said Ann Tennes, college board vice chairman.

The master plan also includes infrastructure and remodeling work throughout campus, such as updating toilets and gym locker rooms, and providing cell phone/Internet access in all public areas.