Committee Freezes UW Tuition, Cuts State Aid To System

Members of both parties approved a budget plan that would freeze tuition at the University of Wisconsin and cut state aid to the university system.

The measure would cut state taxpayer funding for the UW by about $160 million, compared to the budget the governor introduced. The UW would be forced to backfill those expenses with its own funding, likely out of its reserves that Republicans have attacked as being too large and hidden from the public.

GOP lawmakers took shots at the UW during a raucous hearing weeks ago. Thursday night Joint Finance Committee co-Chair Alberta Darling dug in even more, pounding her desk as she said System President Kevin Reilly should be removed from his job.

“We don’t have the power or authority to make that decision, but in the best interest of the state, Kevin Reilly should not be the head of the University System with this breach of trust.”

In addition to all Republicans, two Democrats voted for the proposal, including state Senator Jennifer Shilling of La Crosse, who said there was a disconnect between the people running the UW and the legislature.

“You know, I feel like we’re sitting here at a legislative intervention with UW System.”

Sen. Cory Mason (D-Racine) voted against the plan after he tried and failed to change it to increase financial aid for UW students. As it is, this budget holds financial aid flat.

“I think there was an understandable outcry about a surplus being built on the back of tuition increases, but there should be an equal outcry that the majority party does absolutely nothing to address access and affordability for UW students.”

The plan approved Thursday night would also shift money set aside for employee raises out of the UW’s budget and into the compensation fund for other state workers. The UW would lose the autonomy to spend that money as it pleases.