Walker Reiterates Plan To Divert UW Funds In Budget

Governor Scott Walker reiterated plans to divert University of Wisconsin (UW) funding, following revelations about the size of UW’s cash reserves.

Walker initially budgeted a $181 million increase in state funding for the UW. He says he’ll make sure the cash reserves are enough to make sure the UW can continue to offer a quality education.

“Then I think there’s going to be room to put additional money aside in the budget out of those surpluses for two key areas: for additional funding for public education in the state and for potentially additional relief for hardworking taxpayers in the state.”

Walker won’t say how much he wants to cut the UW or how much he wants to boost funding for K-12 schools and tax cuts. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers says he’s concerned about taking money away from one part of public education to hand it off to another.