COD – Campus Auxiliary Services lose $9,879,804.00 –

College of DuPage (ECWd)-

Today the Chicago Tribune exposed that COD President Robert Breuder, and his top administrators have expensed about $190,000 in food and alcohol at the campus’ upscale restaurant, Waterleaf, over the past three years, which means We The People have paid for this.

I asked the Board during a recent meeting if any of them have gone to the State’s Attorney and demanded prosecution of the illegal actions we have pointed out for months.  With the Tribune coverage we hope some more pressure is being applied to those in law enforcement, but if you think the food and booze fest is bad, look at these costs on the backs of the taxpayer!

7 Year Track Record:

• McAnich Arts Center (MAC) has operated at a loss of ($3,814,814.00)  which includes the projected loss in 2015.
• Waterleaf Restaurant has operated at a loss of ($1,887,044.00) which includes year to date loss of ($216.348.00)
• WDCB Radio Station– Home of the convicted felon who stole over $400,000.00 over 16 years has operated at a loss of ($4,177,189) which includes projected loss in 2015

($9,879,804.00) Total deficit for three “businesses” being subsidized by taxpayers over the last 7 years to include this years’ projected losses.

Nine Million, Eight Hundred Seventy Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Four Dollars! 

$9,879,804.00

These losses are from the Auxiliary Operations at COD.  Auxiliary indicates they are not a mandatory function of a community college.  Considering the Board of Trustees have allowed these Auxiliary Operations to function, is now the time to re-evaluate this money pit?

During the recent despicable presentation on these matters, one of the slides cited the statute that permits these operations.

(110 ILCS 805/3-31.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 103-31.1)
Sec. 3-31.1. To provide, for students and employees, auxiliary services related to the adequate operation of the college. In exercising this power the board may provide, purchase, lease or contract for such services. (Source: Laws 1967, p. 1229.)

I referenced this statute in the articles on US Bank (click here for that article) .  I think it is high time someone put a definition on “adequate operation of the college”. 

I say that because the examples of these ventures presented in the presentation used language that points to one thing while the reality is quite the opposite is happening.

• The Auxiliary Enterprise Fund is used to record revenues and expenses related to providing services to students, faculty, staff, and the general public for which a fee is charged that is directly related to the service provided. The intent is that this fund be self–supporting and that any fees will cover the costs of the services. (click here and read page two for this information)
  

It is clear, by COD’s own numbers, these operations are not self-supporting. 

If the “intent” was for them to be self supporting who is going to take the necessary steps to protect the taxpayer from future financial hardships?  The best of intentions are harming the taxpayers’ pocket book!

Is this yet another case of unintended consequences of allowing bad actors to operate from a position of power?