August 18, 2006
REGENTS FINALIZE UW SYSTEM BUDGET REQUEST
This week, the Board of Regents finalized the biennial 2007-09 budget request at its meetings. The request launches the “UW System Growth Agenda” which lays out a needed reinvestment from the state to graduate more students, attract more college graduates to Wisconsin, and help grow knowledge-economy jobs for Wisconsin. The plan is now forwarded to the Department of Administration to be considered as part of the Governor’s budget to be presented to the Legislature in February 2007. Items of note in the proposal include:
- Average of 2.5 percent increase in tuition over the biennium
- Meet state needs in educating more teachers, nurses, engineers and health-care professionals
- Expand student enrollments
- Retain and recruit faculty and academic staff
- Increases in financial aid for the neediest students
- Create a sales tax exemption for donations to the Athletic Department’s Badger Fund
The budget requests an ongoing base operating budget increase of $120 million in state tax dollars, and student tuition would cover new programs and the university’s existing costs. The request is $90 million less than the Board’s request two years ago.
The Board also approved a capital budget for the System that would require $135 million in state-supported bonding for new major projects, remodeling and expanding academic facilities. System wide, $45.6 million of private matching funds for these projects has been pledged. In addition, the Board is seeking authority to construct $293.9 million of new projects that will not require any state support. The Board also requested $130 million in state-supported bonding for maintenance, repair and renovation of existing academic facilities.
Additional details about the Board’s action is available at: http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2006/r060817a.htm
STATE’S FISCAL CONDITION REVIEWED IN DOA LETTER In a letter to Department of Administration Secretary Stephen Bablitch from the State Budget Director David Schmiedicke the state’s fiscal condition is reviewed. The letter summarizes the last two biennial balanced budgets, the forecast for increases revenues which exceed future commitments and the progress on reducing the state’s tax burden. Additionally, the letter outlines Wisconsin’s improving fiscal condition and lists tax cuts enacted in the last four years and reviews the impact of the top five items in biennial budget, including K-12 education, medical assistance, transportation and higher education.
A copy of the letter is available at:
http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/Aug06/Aug16/0816doabudgetreport.pdf
For more information on state related issues contact,
Kristi Thorson or Don Nelson
Assistant Director, State Relations
608/262-8967