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We
thank you for carrying these messages to the governor and for enabling him
to understand higher education’s central role in the New North regional
strategy for economic and community development. Messages from the community
will continue to be of utmost importance as we move forward in the budget
process. My colleagues with many years of service to the University say the governor’s budget is the most advantageous for the UW System that they can recall. That’s great news, but I must remind myself and others that this is only a start. The introduction of the governor’s budget is step one in the state budget process. The budget now goes to the Legislature’s bipartisan Joint Finance Committee and then to the full Senate and Assembly. In a Legislature with split control (Republicans in the Assembly, Democrats in the Senate), budget negotiations are likely to be complicated and lengthy. We could be well into the summer months before the budget is finalized. We will work with legislators of both parties to strengthen and build on the foundation laid by Gov. Doyle. I can’t say enough about the support we have received time and time again from our area’s legislative contingent. These lawmakers — Republicans and Democrats — understand the importance of the task at hand and realize that the future of our region transcends partisan politics. They know the next generation is counting on us. Just as community support was the key in persuading the governor to support the Growth Agenda, the community holds the key for getting the Legislature to join in. An excellent opportunity for the people of Northeastern Wisconsin to be heard on budget priorities comes when the influential Joint Finance Committee meets April 12 in Green Bay. It is one of six public budget hearings the committee will hold around the state in March and April. Watch the local news media for an announcement of where the committee’s Green Bay hearing will be held. TOP OF NEXT COLUMN |
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I
also must point out that ours is a three-biennium Growth Agenda. We will
seek additional funding in the next two state budgets to reach a level
of support enabling UW-Green Bay to grow from our current enrollment of
about 5,300 students to an optimum enrollment of 7,500. Clearly, we have
much more work to do over the next few years. |
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