College of DuPage board OKs $397 million budget

College of DuPage trustees recently approved a $397.3 million budget for the Glen Ellyn-based school’s next fiscal year, which begins Wednesday.

That amount is roughly $31 million more than COD’s spending plan for the current fiscal year.

The fiscal 2027 budget includes funding to remodel laboratory spaces and upgrade the welding lab ventilation system, according to a news release.

It also calls for hiring 15 additional full-time faculty members, including people who will teach in the construction management, dance, industrial maintenance, business law and engineering programs.

The budget also accounts for adding non-faculty personnel, including a social media supervisor who will be paid a salary of $72,000 a year.

The college serves about 29,000 students each term. It grants seven associate degrees and more than 170 career and technical certificates. Besides its main campus, it has satellites in Addison, Carol Stream, Naperville and Westmont.

The budget anticipates revenues of $351.5 million.

It calls for increasing property taxes by roughly $2 million, to $110.6 million.

The budget also expects more tuition revenue, from both increasing enrollment and a $4-per-credit-hour tuition increase.

“The board and administration remain committed to providing high-quality, affordable educational and enrichment opportunities to all those we serve,” COD board Chairwoman Christine Fenne said in a statement.

“This budget reflects not only months of planning for the continued operation and betterment of the College but also our strong fiduciary responsibility to our students and the community members in District 502,” Fenne added.