Budget stalemate ends, includes ‘major victories’ for higher education

Gov. Jim Doyle ended Wisconsin’s protracted budget stalemate at the Memorial Union on Oct. 26, signing into law a 2007–09 state budget that he said “opens the door of opportunity at our university campuses like never before.”

The governor underscored the importance of the budget for higher education across Wisconsin.

“The states that will be doing well 10, 15 and 20 years from now are those that have the highly skilled workforce ready for the jobs of tomorrow,” he said.

Joining Doyle at the signing were Chancellor John D. Wiley, UW System President Kevin Reilly and students from several UW System campuses.

Wiley said the budget came as a relief after years of budget reductions as the state wrestled with deficits.

“This budget contains major victories for the university in student financial aid, faculty retention and the capital budget,” Wiley said. “This budget reverses a six-year trend of significant reductions in state support and reflects agreement among far-sighted Democrats and Republicans on the importance this university holds.”

Reilly said the budget reflects a “prudent, strategic investment in the University of Wisconsin.

“This budget recognizes that the UW System is the core economic engine for the state of Wisconsin in the 21st century,” he added.

The budget includes a UW System budget increase of $184 million in new money for cost to continue, Growth Agenda, and faculty and staff retention and recruitment, minus a $25 million lapse (dollars sent back to the Department of Administration) for a net state investment of $159 million over two years. The potential UW–Madison share of the lapse is $9.5 million over two years.

It also includes:

• $21.4 million for UW System’s Growth Agenda with a small portion going toward teacher and nursing education at UW–Madison.
• $10 million in state and tuition funds for the recruitment and retention of high- demand faculty and staff throughout UW System with nearly 50 percent allocated to UW–Madison.
• $2.5 million in one-time funding for the UW–Madison Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• $200,000 to support research related to islet transplantation at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
• An increase the graduate and professional student application fee from $45 to $56 and the undergraduate application fee from $35 to $44.
• $12 million for veteran’s tuition and fee remissions.
• A requirement that detailed segregated fee information be included on tuition bills.
• Creation of the Wisconsin Covenant.
• Full funding of the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG) program, which ensures that students on the waiting list for financial aid are served.

Morrad Fadel, a UW–Madison WHEG recipient from Oconomowoc, spoke at the bill signing and thanked state officials for funding the grants.

“I value my education greatly,” he said. “The Wisconsin Higher Education Grant is a vehicle that allows students like myself to achieve new heights socially and academically.”

The budget compromise also removed several provisions passed by the Assembly, including removal of funding for the Law School, Havens Center, and public radio and television; reductions in communications funding; and elimination of certain administrative positions.

As lawmakers tried to find agreement on the budget, the Wisconsin Alumni Association organized a postcard campaign aimed at preserving funding for the university. The campaign generated nearly 30,000 messages from alumni to legislators.

The compromise also allowed renovation projects to proceed at UW–Madison student unions and Sterling Hall, but did not include funding for new lakeshore residence hall complex.