College of DuPage Passes "Open Book" test

Now posts check register on school website

By Adam Andrzejewski, adam@forthegoodofillinois.org

The 930,000 citizens residing in the 39 communities of DuPage County can now “Google” to see how their portion of property tax dollars is funding their community college.  The College of DuPage (COD), the largest single-campus community college in the Midwest, has an annual budget of nearly $140 million.  Establishing a model for openness and transparency in regards to financial information, COD has made itself the largest Illinois education institution to post its check register online. 

The school lists all vendor expenses, including the check number, vendor name, amount and a brief description of each expense.  Implementing this policy allows anyone to review financial decisions made by the COD board.

LINK:  http://www.cod.edu/Adminstr/Board%20Packets/BOT_Financials.pdf 
(Check Register on Pages 6-7)

Read on . . .

Who demonstrated the common sense to implement such a good idea?

Trustee David Carlin and the College Of DuPage used For The Good Of Illinois as an “Open the Books” resource on internet check register posting. David Carlin studied and brought forward the idea of posting check registers to the very supportive Michael E. McKinnon, COD Board Chairman.  Since his election as trustee in April- 2007, David Carlin has advocated sunshine and openness in the governance of the community college. For example, he has championed posting not only audio taped board meetings, but also posting minutes of board meetings and monthly board packets online.  The COD Board implemented each suggestion, and the college website provides the public easy access through the internet.  Check register posting was a common sense extension of the Board’s current openness policies.

David Carlin states, "In the internet age, taxpayers shouldn't have to file Freedom of Information Act requests to get information that should be made readily available to them online."  Kudos to David Carlin and the DuPage County Board!

DuPage County businesses- Take advantage of this service.
The College of DuPage spends approximately $40 million annually in vendor expenses.  If you are a local commercial printer and can deliver quality and competitive pricing, take note.  If you are a local commercial landscaper, insurance company, hotel, advertising agency, law firm, copier company, paving contractor, heating/air contractor, fire equipment, travel agency or architectural firm, COD paid millions of dollars to vendors in these industries in May, 2008.
 
DuPage County companies have a ripe opportunity to look over what needs the school has and compete with the school’s current providers.  If DuPage companies can offer a better service and deal, they could take part in millions of new revenue from COD.  In this way, both your company and the school could profit by exercising civic duty and civic responsibility.

The College of DuPage is the leader in the “Open Book Revolution” in Illinois government. 
Board Chairman Michael McKinnon, Trustee David Carlin and all College of DuPage trustees are to be commended for consistently advancing towards the goal of community openness.   The COD Board has demonstrated government works best when regular people have access and input.  All other public schools in Illinois should follow suit.

The Board has extended an open invitation to local people and businesses to help hone the budget.  Let’s help them out by reviewing the books. 

For The Good Of Illinois.