FROM “OPEN THE BOOKS”- A SUCCESS IN ILLINOIS
This story of spending malfeasance and Board complicity at the second largest public higher education institution in Illinois continues to develop. And what we continue to discover is not pretty. But on the positive side, our efforts are having some impact….to the unhappy detriment of a bloated bureaucracy. Even the Tribune is weighing in and NOT in favor of the status quo. Refreshing.
-Matt
GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AND SEE THE AMAZING WORK THEY DO….RSK
http://www.openthebooks.com/
CASE STUDY: “EVERY DIME. ONLINE”
AGGRESSIVE FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY & REFORM
Illinois Junior College Goes Wild
Wine Cellar, French Restaurant, Shooting Club, corrupted
$20 million state grant, a President’s $500,000 Comp Package,
$600 Million in Construction Projects, & much more…
Read our summary, click here
Rather than institute reform, the college targeted the reformer
Today, from the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board…
A CENSURE
FOR SPEAKING OUT
“If you serve on the College of DuPage board of trustees… You’re also expected to sit down and shut up. The COD board recently censured one of its members (Kathy Hamilton) in a resolution that reads like a teeny-bopper temper tantrum.” | August 28, 2014
Read the Chicago Tribune Editorial, click here
RULE #1: RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU’RE WINNING
You’re cynical; I understand. But, last Thursday night, 200 students, faculty, and citizens picked up a big victory. The Board voted unanimously to freeze tuition for two years.
COD has $180 million in the bank. So we’ve advocated three policies: 1. Freeze Property Taxes; 2. Freeze Tuition; 3. Bring the extra dollars into the classroom.
Thanking the Board, Challenging them to do much more…
Watch my Public Comment at College of DuPage (COD)
In June/July, we exposed and stopped a corrupt $20 million state construction grant being used to generate political support for Governor Quinn. Read a summary here.
On Thursday night, the board adopted our two year tuition freeze policy. This reversed a February decision to hike tuition. Vote: 7-0
Also on Thursday, Vice Chairman Kathy Hamilton spearheaded our policy to “open the books” on the millions of hidden “petty cash” payments. Up to $30 million in non-transparent payments has occurred under current chairman. Vote: 7-0
RULE #2: MORE REFORM NEEDED- KEEP GOING
Dead elephants, military slurs, taxpayer paid satellite phones, hidden arrest records… the College of DuPage story must continue.
Watch this three minute YouTube video, click here
Watch Laura Reigle, a researcher at OpenTheBooks.com, show that the $600 million spent on construction since 2008 built more office space for executives than classrooms for students. COD now has more office space than any other IL community college has in classrooms!
After $600 million in construction, building more office space than classrooms; $500,000 in total comp for the president and $2.4 million for only nine executives; wine purchases for $200,000 with $500,000 losses at an upscale French restaurant; $27,000 in payments to the local shooting club; 9 weeks taxpayer paid Global satellite phones; a wine cellar…
After minimal reform, but targeting the reform board member…
After extreme property tax hikes and tuition hikes during one of the greatest recessions of our lifetime…
Our research regarding College of DuPage continues to expand. Unfortunately, there’s a whole lot more.
Use OpenTheBooks.com and start searching the salaries, pensions and checkbook spending of your local community college.
ADAM ANDRZEJEWSKI
Founder, Open The Books
Chairman, American Transparency
P.S. Bad actors hate sunlight… help us expose more spending to stop more mis-allocation of resources.
Please make a tax deductible gift of $25, $50, $100, $250 or $500 today.
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