Let the sun shine in

Travel spending rules vary

March 19, 2007

Associated Press

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS - Six board members from the College of Lake County in Grayslake spent $3,325 on food and room service while attending a three-day conference last year in Washington, D.C.

Two trustees from Des Plaines-based Oakton Community College at the same seminar spent $134 on food and drinks, according to an analysis by the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald.

Spending rules vary wildly for elected trustees at Illinois' community colleges, from stringent $30-per-day allowances to no rules at all, the newspaper reported in its Sunday editions. That's in contrast to travel guidelines at public universities, which allow a maximum of $28 per day for out-of-town expenses.

College representatives say food expenses are necessary for school trustees, who often lobby state and federal lawmakers for funding over dinner. Trustees also aren't paid while they serve.

"Everything we do outside of the college is meant to influence a decision-maker that can be helpful to the college," said College of Lake County board Chairman William M. Griffin.

The board's February 2006 trip to the Association of Community College Trustees National Legislative Summit, where trustees spent $3,325, netted the school two grants worth more than $673,000, said spokeswoman Evelyn Schiele.

Critics say community colleges should have strict rules or daily limits, especially when the schools are cutting budgets and raising fees.

"How about saving taxpayers' dollars?" said Jay Stewart, executive director of the Better Government Association. "What a radical concept."

The paper reviewed expense records from 59 out-of-town trips taken by about 50 officials from seven community colleges in Chicago's suburbs between 2003 and 2006. The College of Lake County, Sugar Grove-based Waubonsee Community College, Elgin Community College, Oakton, Harper College in Palatine, College of DuPage and McHenry County College have enrollments of more than 102,500 students.

Rules for travel expenses differ at each school. For example, College of Lake County officials can be reimbursed for alcohol, but not at Oakton.

Oakton trustees get up to $30 a day. The College of DuPage also is strict, with three pages of guidelines about record-keeping and non-reimbursable items, like newspapers.

Waubonsee, McHenry County College and College of Lake County have no per diem limits.

"I think some guidelines are needed," said Cindi Canary, executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

Belleville News Democrat