COD board agrees to keep tuition, taxes flat

College of DuPage trustees have approved a spending plan that will keep tuition flat and hold the line on property taxes during the upcoming fiscal year.

The board voted 6-1 on Thursday night to adopt a roughly $172.9 million operating budget that is about $8.5 million less than this year.

The Glen Ellyn-based school starts its next fiscal year on July 1.

"What we were hoping to accomplish with the budget was very straightforward," COD board Chairwoman Deanne Mazzochi said. "It was to freeze tuition, keep the tax levy flat and make sure the budget is balanced. We achieved all three."

Mazzochi said the budget preserves core services to students.

There are no layoffs and no cuts to academic programs as part of the spending plan.

Meanwhile, the budget was prepared with the expectation that COD won't receive any money from the state during fiscal 2017.

Normally, COD's operating budget would include roughly $12 million in state funding. But because of the budget impasse in Springfield, COD only got about $3.5 million for the current fiscal year.

"With the uncertainty in Springfield, what the college will receive in state aid is a guessing game," said Trustee Frank Napolitano, chairman of the budget committee.

"Since we have no more idea than anyone else what our state leaders will do, we have planned for the worst," Napolitano said. "If Springfield does better, then that is great news. If not, then we are prepared."

Support for the new budget came from Mazzochi, Napolitano, Charles Bernstein, David Olsen, Joseph Wozniak and Erin Birt. Trustee Dianne McGuire cast the only dissenting vote.

As part of the spending plan, trustees decided to keep the property tax levy flat.

The college is projected to receive $79.3 million in property taxes for fiscal 2017.

This year, DuPage residents with homes valued at $250,000 paid about $232 in taxes to the college, according to the county clerk's office.

COD trustees also froze tuition as part of the budget.

Students will pay the same amount they paid this spring, after tuition was cut by $5 per credit hour.

Right now, in-district students pay $135 per credit hour.

That amount includes fees. Illinois students coming from outside the district pay $322 per credit hour.

"One reason why students come to COD is because of its affordability," Mazzochi said. "That's why we are standing firm on freezing tuition."

The school is projected to collect $80.6 million from tuition and fees in fiscal 2017.

When it comes to expenses, the college is going to give employees 3 percent raises. Salaries and benefits make up about 70 percent of the operating budget.

COD is planning to spend less on money on legal and professional services compared to this year.

The current budget includes $3.4 million for legal and professional fees. There's also a $4 million contingency fund.

As part of the 2017 budget, the school set aside $1 million for legal and professional fees.

The contingency fund, which covers any additional college or legal spending, has been reduced to $3 million.