SPRINGFIELD— State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) will serve as vice-chairman of the Illinois Senate’s Local Government Committee.

“Our units of local government are expected to provide services ranging from police and fire keeping us safe to fixing potholes and keeping streets clear in the winter.  I understand the tough balance between providing basic services, meeting standards and balancing budgets,” said Cullerton. “I’m excited to use my background as the former Village President of Villa Park to tackle issues that directly affect municipalities.”

Last week, Governor Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget included a 50 percent cut to state funding to cities and villages.

“The governor’s proposal to slash local government funds means cuts in services to our communities and increases in property taxes as our local mayors attempt to provide needed services to residents,” said Cullerton.  “I expect his proposed cuts will raise interesting debates and obstacles as local officials anticipate devastating cuts to funding.”   

Cullerton will also serve on the Appropriations II, Labor, State Government & Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Energy and Public Utilities Committees.

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) issued the following statement regarding Gov. Rauner’s Budget Address.

“Our local units of government use the Local Government Distributive funds to provide service for our community. The governor’s proposal mean cuts in services to our communities-  less police and firemen on our streets, layoffs of employees working in service offices and raises in property taxes as our local mayors attempt to provide services to residents. This plan isn’t going to solve Illinois’ problems, it will only create more.” 

Illinois Senate Democrats to investigate campus executive compensation

Review prompted by recent abuses

“The priorities for state universities and community colleges should be to educate our children, not betraying our constituents by handing out golden parachutes to administrators.There is an obvious need for reforms to the way they use taxpayer dollars to ensure institutions are advancing educational opportunities, not administrators’ pockets.”  - State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park)

SPRINGFIELD — In the wake of questionable executive severance deals at state universities and community colleges, the Illinois Senate’s Higher Education Committee is creating a fact-finding subcommittee to steer reform efforts and ensure tuition and tax dollars are used responsibly.

“Taxpayers are demanding to know how we compensate administrators, why we are compensating them and what safeguards we can put in place to end the type of abuses we’ve recently seen,” said Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), who heads the new Subcommittee on Executive Compensation.

The issue was thrust into the spotlight after the College of DuPage inked a more than $750,000 severance deal with president Robert Breuder to have him quit early. Nearly a year ago, Illinois State University cut a similar deal worth $480,000 with its president. The lavish deals come at a time when tuition and fees have nearly doubled over the past decade and the average Illinois college student is saddled with more than $28,000 in debt.

Read more: PRESS RELEASE-Illinois Senate Democrats to investigate campus executive compensation

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) issued the following statement regarding the College of DuPage trustees’ decision to give the college president a $762,000 bonus to quit early.

“As a local taxpayer I’m offended. 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.”

Cullerton is working on legislation in response. Proposals he plans to file in the Illinois Senate would:

-- Prohibit the school from naming a building or program after the outgoing president if public resources are used to support that building or program.

-- Restrict public entities’ ability to include buyout provisions in management contracts and force disclosure of such provisions.

In addition, Cullerton will demand that College of DuPage officials explain their actions to the Senate Appropriations Committee, which oversees higher education budgeting. Cullerton is a member of that committee.