State Reps. McDermed, Batinick, Ives, Breen, Sandack, and Winger
CHICAGO - In response to the College of DuPage's golden parachute for President Robert Breuder, state lawmakers with DuPage County constituents called for legislative efforts to prevent similar "taxpayer betrayal" in the future.
Their proposals ranged from local boards making contract and severance packages public, to pension caps and tax hike limitations, all with intentions of holding governing boards accountable.
"Guarding local control in our communities and protecting taxpayers from the actions of rogue local boards requires precision in policy making at the state level," State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) said at a press conference. "The initiatives we will be making are not an exhaustive list. We are open to ideas from our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as well as our constituents and community leaders."
Legislative proposals will include:
- Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton): To require posting online 14 days and a public hearing held prior to government unit consideration of all employee contracts over $150,000.
- Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield): To allow local government to recall elected officials for negligent behavior.
- Margo McDermed (R-Mokena): To make public employee severance agreements open to public scrutiny through the Freedom of Information Act.
- Peter Breen (R-Lombard): To prevent any future community college severance agreements to have no more than one year's salary and benefits. For current severance agreements, to restrict a community college from raising tuition or fees one year for every year they are paying out a previous multi-year severance agreement.
- Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove): To move elections for schools boards to the fall election schedule; To restrict local school boards from using state taxpayer funds to pay for COD-like "sweetheart" deals.
McDermed's bill has been introduced; the others are expected to be introduced to the Illinois House later this week.
Monday's complete press conference is viewable online HERE. Videos below:
