Taxpayers, Students Bridge Suburban Funding Gap

Ten years ago, College of DuPage received $21.2 million from the state to help fund the operation of the second-largest community college system in Illinois.

By 2015, the state’s contribution had dropped to $18.7 million. It was the only suburban college to receive less money that year than a decade ago.

But now, every suburban community college is in the same boat, with property taxes and tuition taking up the slack for declining state funding.