[media-credit name=’Yana Paskova’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Gov. Jim Doyle addressed the state from the Capitol Tuesday evening to propose his biennial budget for Wisconsin and to announce education is his main priority.

Education is key for the “long-term strength of Wisconsin,” including good jobs, a growing economy, reducing the number of inmates and finding cures for disease, according to Doyle.

Doyle also pointed to his quest to keep a balanced budget for the state of Wisconsin.

“Tonight, I fulfill one of the most important responsibilities as governor: presenting a budget that embodies the values of the people of Wisconsin — one that meets our needs, upholds our principles, balances our books and, most importantly, keeps Wisconsin on the move,” Doyle said in his address.

For the first time in 10 years, more state money will go to the University of Wisconsin and financial aid than to the Department of Corrections under Doyle’s proposal. Two-hundred UW administration positions will be cut, but 125 faculty positions will increase in the next two years to compensate for growing enrollment in state universities.

Tuition increases will be held between 5 and 7 percent to ensure the UW System remains one of the more affordable in the nation. Financial aid will increase by 34 percent to offset tuition expenses, according to Doyle.

“This was a homerun for me because education really is No. 1, and we really have to take care of it,” Rep. Gary Hebl, D-Sun Prairie, said.

Doyle also proposed expanding college tax deduction for Wisconsin families to make tuition more affordable.

“The UW System is the finest in the nation, and we need to make sure it remains the most affordable in the nation,” Doyle said.

In the weeks preceding Doyle’s budget address, Republicans criticized the governor for his calls to increase spending despite the large budget deficit. Prior to the speech, many state Republican legislators believed Doyle would propose raising taxes to fix the $1.6 billion deficit, despite his previous promises.

“This budget, like the last one, is not just about cutting,” Doyle said. “It’s about setting priorities. And keeping to my promise, we will eliminate this $1.6 billion deficit without raising taxes.”

The property-tax freeze would prevent $900 million in tax increases and would save the average homeowner $330 over two years, according to Doyle.

Although the majority of Republicans have urged Doyle to freeze property taxes, most Republican legislators did not applaud Doyle’s announcement that property taxes would be frozen for the next two years.

“The governor’s budget address lacks a lot of legitimacy,” said Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center.

The state is $1.6 billion in debt and the governor’s proposal basically boils down to borrowing and spending an additional $1 to 2 billion even with a $1.6 billion deficit, Schultz added.

“You don’t have to be real good at math to understand that just doesn’t add up,” he said.

Sen. Glen Grothman, R-West Bend, said it is admirable Doyle acknowledged the problems associated with property taxes.

“Now it’s up to the Republicans in the Legislature to not give in to all the increases in government [spending],” Grothman said. “If we accept Gov. Doyle’s budget — but none of his increases in spending — we can do well.”

Despite rumors Doyle would propose domestic-partner benefits to UW faculty, the topic was not addressed in the governor’s speech.

Hebl said the governor used a “broad-brush” approach in his speech, rather than speak on each individual item included in his budget proposal.

Wisconsin is the only Big Ten school that does not provide benefits to domestic partners.

“I think [Doyle] is very concerned about [domestic-partner benefits],” Hebl said. “[But] it’s going to be a little bit of a battle right now because the majority party is somewhat against it.”

Doyle also proposed $5 million for job training, $4.4 billion for transportation and an expansion in Medicaid. He proposed cutting 1,800 state jobs and repealing a compensation formula called the QEO that has helped to control school property-tax levies since 1993.