UW Regents Approve Budget That Absorbs $125M In Cuts

The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved a nearly $6.2 billion budget Thursday in a voice vote.

The regents’ approval of the 2015-16 annual operating budget and tuition plan comes shortly after both houses of the Legislature approved the state budget, which includes a $125 million cut in state aid over the next year.

At least one of the Regents voted no. Regent Charles Pruitt said his vote was symbolic.

“There has to be some place where individual regents … at least send a message that they have profound disagreements with what our partners in state government have done here, both in terms of a $250 million cut, and what at least I believe are ill-considered changes on tenure on other things,” said Pruitt.

Roughly $180 million will be allocated from fund balances to balance the budget.