UW Regents Approve Capital, Operating Requests In Next State Budget

The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved a pair of budget requests to state lawmakers, including a $1.9 billion capital budget request for building and renovation projects around the state.

UW System officials say the plan catches them up after four years of cuts by state legislators.

The new proposal is the largest capital budget request made by the regents in the last decade. It includes 18 major construction projects at UW campuses.

Four projects would be funded by increases in student fees, including a new field house and soccer facility at UW-La Crosse; a new UW-Madison natatorium and recreational center; and a new UW-Stevens Point student health center.

Students at the three campuses approved a series of fee raises in 2014 to pay for the projects.

During a presentation to regents, Alex Roe, UW System associate vice president for capital planning and budget, said that additional funding would help bring their capital budget plans back in line with goals set in 2015 when state lawmakers reduced the UW capital budget by more than $200 million.

“You can see that our proposed plan is attempting to catch us up from the lack of funding in the last four years,” said Roe.

During discussions, Regent Jason Plante said he wanted the UW System to avoid neglecting building maintenance and renovations in order to extend the lives of facilities and ensure future students can succeed.

“If we’re training our next generation of workforce and they are the lifeblood of our economy, we can’t allow that to happen at a system level,” he said.

Bryan Steil, a Republican running for U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan’s seat this fall, was the only regent who voted against the building budget. He said it was too large and not focused. He said the money could be better spent elsewhere in the UW System budget.

“I feel that by passing the number of projects this large, we don’t do quite the full justice that we could to identify the academic projects that are the most significant of our priorities,” Steil said.
“So, as I review the capital budget, I feel it’s too large and not quite focused enough.”

According to the UW System, 60 percent of its buildings were constructed between 1950 and 1979.

Regents Also OK Operating Budget Request

The regents also signed off on asking for an additional $107 million in the next state budget.

The request seeks an additional $82.5 million in tax dollars to meet performance-based goals Republican state legislators have imposed on the system. System officials also want an additional $25 million to help provide more access to high-demand programs in science, engineering, health care and business.

The request doesn’t seek any tuition or across-the-board student fee increases.

Democrat Tony Evers, who is running for governor, was the only regent who voted against that request. He complained the request doesn’t seek any money for raises.

System President Ray Cross said he plans to ask regents in December to approve a compensation increase request equal to twice the inflation rate.

Evers said the board should make the request now.

The spending plans will now go to the Legislature as lawmakers craft the next state budget.