University of Wisconsin students would see a two-year tuition freeze, and the UW System would get less funds than originally proposed, under changes Gov. Scott Walker made to his proposed budget Wednesday.
The changes, including a $94.4 million decrease from the $181 million Walker originally proposed, were outlined in a letter from Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch to the Legislature’s finance committee. The letter came weeks after lawmakers learned of $648 million in reserves at UW System, $414 million of which came from tuition.
The total decrease in funds from the original proposal is $94.4 million, although $65.7 million comes from the state general funds that pay for areas like education. UW System would now see an $87 million funding increase during the next two years.
“The Walker administration is saddened that UW System did not show leadership during a fiscal crisis, and instead made the burden of a public higher education heavier while stockpiling cash,” Huebsch said in the letter.
The Legislature has to approve the changes Walker proposed, although Republicans have called for funding decreases, and both parties support the tuition freeze.
UW System Board of Regents President Brent Smith emphasized in a statement UW System officials have been “good stewards” of resources, although he said a “formal policy” on future reserves is needed.
Hours before news of the reserves came out, UW System President Kevin Reilly had called for a 2 percent tuition increase, which would have been the lowest increase in recent history.
“We share the governor’s interest in keeping college affordable and tuition low,” Reilly said. “While UW tuition is already lower than many peer colleges and universities, a two-year tuition freeze will send the right message to Wisconsin students and families.”
UW System institutions will shift $42 million in other funds to cover what UW System would lose in revenues from the tuition freeze, according to the statement.
A Marquette Law School poll released Tuesday showed 76 percent of the public supported a tuition freeze.
Dylan Jambrek, government relations director for United Council of UW Students, said his organization is thrilled with Walker’s proposed tuition freeze.
“It will give relief to families and students who are turning increasingly to loan debt,” Jambrek said.
While Jambrek said he is pleased with the tuition freeze, he said Walker’s budget changes are disappointing. He said he would rather see Walker using money to increase financial aid.
“Students were charged tuition increases that weren’t really necessary, so putting it back into financial aid would really return that money to students,” Jambrek said.
