For the United Council of University of Wisconsin Students, Gov. Jim Doyle's annual State of the State Address Tuesday showed promise for the UW System — but no guarantees.
The governor proposed more student financial aid and funding, but like legislators across Wisconsin, the United Council said it looks forward to reviewing Doyle's budget in print.
"I am confident the governor will reinvest in the [UW System]," said Kiley Williams, president of United Council, a student advocacy group that represents 20 UW schools including UW-Madison. "But once the budget comes out, we'll be able to say a lot more."
While praising the governor's wish list of UW System initiatives, some legislators cautioned against "joining the chorus" because the state's two-year budget faces a projected $1.6 billion deficit.
"Budgets are all about priorities," said state Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison. "[Doyle's] priorities are right — investing in education."
According to an interview with The Associated Press, Doyle will provide $225 million to the UW System in his budget this year to help train and graduate more nurses, teachers and engineers.
In his speech Tuesday, Doyle also proposed expanding enrollment at five UW campuses — Green Bay, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Superior, River Falls — and increasing financial aid.
Gary Sandefur, UW-Madison dean of the College of Letters and Science, said most of Doyle's UW System proposals will likely benefit UW campuses other than Madison.
"I don't think it will have a direct impact on us," Sandefur said. "The money for additional training will go to other UW System schools primarily."
The biennium budget will not include a "big infusion of money for UW," Sandefur added. "We'll get our continued budget."
State Rep. Mark Gundrum, R-New Berlin, said he supports education but Doyle has stepped into a "dream world" that will end up costing taxpayers more money.
"Obviously education is important, but we need to live within our means," Gundrum said. "We got to say 'No' to some of these things."
With the biennium budget due to the Legislature Feb. 13, Gundrum said Doyle will have to cut millions of dollars from some programs if he plans to finance his education and UW System proposals.
State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, agreed with Doyle's $225 million proposal and said he would be willing to support more.
"It's very generous … but I feel the University should have more funding yet and financial aid," Black said. "This increase is making up for [past budget cuts]."
Two state budgets ago, the Legislature sliced $250 million from the UW System resulting in tuition increases and program cuts. In the last budget, the System sustained a $90 million budget cut.
"We need to make up for that lost ground," Black added.
Black said Doyle's education proposals are likely to receive mixed reactions in the Legislature and said there could be two very different versions of the UW System's budget.
"My best guess is that the funding for the University will be hammered out by conference committee [between the two Houses]," Black said.