October 26, 2007
Governor Signs Budget into Law at Memorial Union
For over 100 days, legislative leaders and the Governor engaged in a budget stalemate that left many wondering if the deal would ever get done. This week, in fairly swift fashion, a budget deal was reached and the legislature passed a compromise before the Governor signed it into law today at the Memorial Union. The spending plan incorporates much of what the Governor included in his recent special session bill. The highlights of the compromised bill signed into law today include:
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.
- $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 to be 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.
- 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.
- Require detailed segregated fee information to be included on tuition bills.
- Creation of the Wisconsin Covenant.
- Full funding of the WHEG program which ensures students on the waiting list for financial aid are served.
Over the course of the negotiations, several provisions that were included in the Assembly version of the budget were removed. The items of note include:
- Removal of funding for the UW Law School
- Reduction of funding for University Relations and communications
- Elimination of certain administrative positions
- Elimination of funding for The Havens Center
- Elimination of funding for public radio and television
In light of the bi-partisan compromise, the Governor made very few vetoes. Once specific veto made did remove a requirement that the university provide information to students when they register for class who will be teaching their class on a regular basis and if they are a faculty, academic staff, teaching assistant or lecturer. He vetoed this provision because he agrees with the university position that these specific class assignments may not be known completely at the time of student registration. There were no other significant vetoes that affect UW-Madison. A copy of the Governor's veto message is available at: http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/071026DoyleVeto.pdf
The budget also included an increase in funding for the compensation reserves which, along with tuition, funds pay plan. As you may know, the Regents requests a fully state funded pay plan for a 5.2 percent increase. While that plan is unlikely, it is still unknown as to what level pay plan will be set. These details should be released soon.
A Legislative Fiscal Comparative Summary of the budget is available at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/2007-09budget/Conference%20Committee/tableofcontents.htm
A copy of Chancellor John Wiley's statement on the budget is available at: http://www.news.wisc.edu/14350
With the completion of the budget, the legislature begins its Fall session that will run through early December. The Spring session is slated to start mid January and run until mid March.
Senate Democrats Change Leadership
In a surprising move, the day after the legislature approved the state budget, Senate Democrats convened to change leadership. Out as Majority Leader is Sen. Judy Robson (D-Beloit) and in is Sen. Russ Decker (D-Schofield). There is wide speculation as to what motivated the change, however, it is not unprecedented. With the change, it is expected that key committee assignments, such as the Joint Committee on Finance, will be reviewed and possibly changed.
For the complete text of all bills and their current status, please visit:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/ab_list.html (Assembly bills) or
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/sb_list.html (Senate bills).
For more information on state related issues contact,
Don Nelson
Assistant Director, State Relations
608-265-4105