• The Assembly
budget leaves a shortfall of $120 million in state support for the
UW System; this equates to a cut of $2.8 million for UW-Green Bay
in the 2007-09 budget period.
• The Assembly
budget does provide new funding of about $1.1 million for Northeastern
Wisconsin's Growth Agenda in the 2008-09.
• Even including
the Growth Agenda funding, UW-Green Bay will sustain a net loss
of $1.7 million over the two-year budget period.
• Northeastern
Wisconsin's Growth Agenda is a three-biennium proposal totaling
$8.2 million. Without adequate funding in the first biennium, UW-Green
Bay will not have a strong foundation on which to build the overall
initiative.
• Assembly
Republicans are correct in saying the Assembly budget increases
taxpayer support of the UW System by $62 million (about 3 percent)
in 2007-09. However, this increase at best funds only about one-third
of ongoing, previously approved obligations for salaries and fringe
benefits, utilities and debt service - leaving the $120 million
shortfall.
• The Legislature
itself voted in the 2003-05 and 2005-07 budget periods to approve
the ongoing commitments mentioned previously. The bill for these
commitments comes due in 2007-09.
• The Assembly
budget cuts would come on top of ongoing and one-time cuts totaling
$3.7 million for UW-Green Bay since 2001.
• We recognize
the importance to taxpayers of keeping public services affordable
and taxes low. However, any successful enterprise requires investment
and growth. Some targeted revenue increases likely will be needed
to support the UW System and balance the state budget.
