COD might cut tuition and taxes

College of DuPage officials say they are pursuing a plan to reduce tuition by $5 per credit hour and cut the property tax levy by 5 percent.

A college committee analysis has found the school could do both and still have a balanced budget. Originally, a spending plan was envisioned to be approved before the current fiscal year started July 1. But with trustees working to implement various changes in the wake of controversies at the Glen Ellyn-based community college, a decision was made to re-examine the budget.

A Thursday night presentation about the committee's work showed the school could reduce tuition, lower taxes and still have a $761,000 surplus. The remaining cash could be added to COD's already healthy reserve fund.

"We can have a (proposed) budget that ... successfully allows the board to understand what its true limitations are and what its true abilities are to decrease taxes for the people here in District 502," board Chairwoman Kathy Hamilton said. "In fact, it can also decrease tuition."

Before the April election, where three Hamilton-backed candidates shifted the balance of power on the seven-member board, the previous board voted to keep tuition at $140 per credit hour for in-district students. That amount includes fees. Illinois students coming from outside the district pay $327 per credit hour.

Trustee Frank Napolitano, chairman of the budget committee, stressed that cutting tuition is possible by "removing fluff" from the budget, including money set aside for positions that weren't being filled.

"It will be business as usual, but we can tax the residents less," Napolitano said. "We can charge the students less and provide the same quality service to the community without making any service cuts."

Before the board can vote to reduce property taxes and tuition, it will need to take a final vote on the revised spending plan.

Trustees have until Sept. 30 to adopt the new budget. That's because they approved a spending resolution that allows the college to operate under its previous budget beyond July 1.