Dupage Policy Journal

State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) filed an amendment on Tuesday to a House resolution that would deepen the Illinois auditor general's investigation into the financial activity of the College of DuPage.

The resolution was passed last month in response to the college's Board of Trustees approving a $763,000 contract buyout for COD President Robert Breuder, who plans to leave his position later this year.

“Those who pay taxes to the College of DuPage were outraged by the reckless decision to provide President Breuder with a $763,000 golden parachute deal on his way out the door,” Ives said. “House Resolution 55 asks the Illinois auditor general to conduct a performance audit of the College of DuPage for fiscal years 2011-2014, and the amendment I filed this week adds depth to the areas that can be investigated.”

Under the amendment, the auditor general would be allowed to contract with the College of DuPage to increase the scope of the audit. Currently, the auditor general's report would only focus on public funds appropriated by the General Assembly as directed by the Illinois Constitution. However, a contract would allow the auditor general to dig deeper into financial activity.

Ives said if the college trustees have nothing to hide, then contracting with the auditor general shouldn't be an issue. The amendment also asks the college to pay for the cost of the audit.

Under the new resolution, the auditor general would look into the college's revenue sources and expenditures, whether the board is following its policies and carrying out its responsibilities, whether Breuder's buyout was comparable to other severance packages offered to other Illinois community college presidents and whether changes to Breuder's severance package were properly approved.