Wisconsin From A-Zia: Walker Cuts to UW System Top $300 Million

Cuts are happening right and left in the state of Wisconsin, and the UW system is getting hit especially hard. Between 2011-2013 Walker will force the UW system to cut $65.8 million, and this does not include the $250 million base budget reduction. Overall, there will be about $300 million worth of cuts to the UW system over the next two years.

Notice of the additional cuts was sent in a memo from Ray Cross, chancellor for UW Colleges and Extension, to University officials last Friday.

“Let’s just say this will be very egregious,” Cross said. “This will be serious…We’ve removed any low hanging fruit. Now you’re cutting meat. There will be changes we will have to make.”

A letter from Representatives Barbara Toles, Terese Berceau, Louis Molepske and Mark Pocan to Representative Steve Nass indicates how worrisome these cuts are. “While everyone knew additional lapses were coming, we were under the misguided impression that the lapses would be fair,” they pleaded.

It’s absolutely ridiculous that the UW System should have to take this big of a hit to balance the state budget. Governor Walker should consider himself lucky that he has such an impressive university in his state, and he should stop trying to destroy it. I’m not sure when the SOP became dismantling the education system in a time of state debt, but depriving students of a good education is an incredibly shortsighted way of trying to better the state of Wisconsin.

Add another item to the long list of reasons why Governor Scott Walker has failed Wisconsin.