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Remarks and EssaysE-mail message to the CampusFebruary 18, 2009 Budget UpdateFaculty and staff colleagues,I’m sure many of you were tuned in Tuesday night to hear Gov. Jim Doyle present his 2009-11 budget proposal to the state Legislature and the citizens of Wisconsin. Chancellor-designate Tom Harden and I had the privilege of attending the speech and talking with the governor afterward. In his speech, the governor offered a sobering assessment of the state’s financial picture resulting from the national economic downturn. The budget deficit that must be addressed in the next two years is $5.7 billion. This budget no doubt will present significant challenges for the University of Wisconsin System and its campuses. However, Gov. Doyle also made clear that he considers education – including higher education – to be the state’s most important function. His budget plan included numerous provisions that will help our universities position the state for long-term economic success. At a time when the Governor says staying even should be considered a budget increase, one area that actually will see a funding increase is financial aid. The budget provides a $12 million increase to the UW System for need-based aid. Gov. Doyle’s financial aid proposal would offset tuition increases for resident undergraduate students whose families have a median family income of up to $60,000. As Board of Regents President Mark Bradley noted after the budget address, these financial aid proposals will keep a college education within the reach of Wisconsin residents. As I mentioned previously, this budget plan includes major challenges for our campuses and the dedicated people who make up our campus communities. The proposal reduces the amount of state tax support for the UW System by $100 million over two years (some of which is offset by increased tuition revenue) and also calls for an across-the-board one-time cut for all state agencies equal to 1 percent of all non-federal funds. The impact of these cuts on individual campuses is not clear yet, and we will carefully review the cuts and their potential impact in the days and weeks ahead. I also want to point out that, under the Governor’s proposal, almost all other state agencies are receiving deeper budget cuts than those the UW System faces. The Governor’s plan does not include funding for Phase II of the UW System Growth Agenda, including Northeastern Wisconsin’s Growth Agenda for UW-Green Bay. That means Phase II of the Growth Agenda is on hold for the time being. However, the budget proposal continues to fully fund the Growth Agenda’s Phase I, which was initially part of the 2007-09 state budget. Gov. Doyle also announced that there will be no general pay increases for state employees during the 2009-11 biennium. We have long argued that competitive salaries are needed to recruit and retain the outstanding caliber of people we have at UW-Green Bay and other UW campuses. In that regard, the Governor’s announcement is disappointing. But we also must face the grim reality of the state’s highest unemployment rate in 22 years and widespread layoffs and furloughs facing thousands of private-sector employees across Wisconsin. The Governor said he is working hard to avoid layoffs and furloughs, which many other states already are imposing. The Governor’s speech Tuesday night is just the start of what we can expect to be a lengthy budget process. This process will include public hearings at which citizens can make their voices heard. We will work closely with the Governor and the New North legislative delegation to make sure they understand the importance of UW-Green Bay, Northeastern Wisconsin’s Growth Agenda and the UW System to the state’s economic future. My message to you today is just the first of many you can expect in the months ahead. UW-Green Bay will have an open, transparent budget process. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact me by phone at 2207 or by e-mail at wardd@uwgb.edu. I ask for your patience as we work through this challenging budget scenario. And I thank you for all you do – day in and day out – for UW-Green Bay, our region and our state. Dave |
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 Office of the Chancellor David A. Cofrin Library, Suite 810 University of Wisconsin-Green Bay 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 Phone: 920-465-2207 Comments to: Chancellor's Web Manager Revised 1/28/11 E-mail: wardd@uwgb.edu Remarks and Essays Chancellor Home UW-Green Bay Home |
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