Dupage Policy Journal

State Sen. Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) expressed his outrage over the “golden parachute” given to College of DuPage President Robert Breuder.

Breuder will receive a $762,000 retirement deal following a 6-1 vote by the trustees of the College of DuPage.

“As a local taxpayer I’m offended,” Fullerton said. “As a lawmaker I’m outraged. The college’s priority should be educating students, not handing out golden parachutes. I don’t know how this college can come to Springfield and ask for state tax dollars, or turn to DuPage County residents for local tax dollars given this disregard for public resources.”

In response to the retirement package, Fullerton is working on legislation that he will file with the Illinois Senate to prohibit the school from naming a building or program after Breuder if public resources are used to support that building or program. The legislation would also restrict the college’s ability to include buyout provisions in management contracts and force disclosure of such provisions.

Fullerton also plans to demand that the College of DuPage officials explain their actions to the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member. The committee is tasked with overseeing higher education budgeting.