Spring Break
State budget deficit will likely affect UW-L
Mary Malahy
Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: News
The budget situation in Madison is tense as the government struggles to face a $652 million deficit. Unfortunately, UW-L may have to help deal with this shortage.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Governor Doyle spoke to a business group about the issue. "Everyone may have to share in this a little bit to get this done. The university is going to have to participate with other state agencies and get a little more efficient and be part of the answer," Doyle said.
UW La Crosse, Chief Financial Officer, Vice Chancellor Bob Hetzel said the amount of the financial burden UW-L will have to bear has not been determined.
"We know there is going to be a lapse," Hetzel said. "That is a one time cut and it could be as high as a million dollars, but it's not permanent."
Chancellor Joe Gow is very concerned by the possibility of losing faculty.
"The challenge is 85-90% of the budget is in salaries of people who work here," Gow said. "The big money is in people and we really don't want to let people go."
However, because of the Growth, Quality, and Access Agenda, the University is still planning on adding faculty this fall, Hetzel said.
The Growth, Quality, and Access Agenda was approved last December to increase incoming student's tuition in order to higher new faculty, Gow explained.
"What would be unfortunate is if we have to cut faculty on one end because of the state budget, but then add back with Growth, Quality, and Access," Gow said. "We won't make the gains we wanted to result from that program."
According to Hetzel, the University is still hoping to add 14 faculty and 4 staff positions.
"If we have adjustments to make we are hoping that doesn't impact quality," Hetzel said. "I have to be realistic, it may have some impact, but we're going to try and lessen that as much as possible."
The most concerning thing is UW-L may have to give back some of the money the system provided for the Growth Agenda, Gow said. This money was supposed to be used to offer financial aid for new students.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Governor Doyle spoke to a business group about the issue. "Everyone may have to share in this a little bit to get this done. The university is going to have to participate with other state agencies and get a little more efficient and be part of the answer," Doyle said.
UW La Crosse, Chief Financial Officer, Vice Chancellor Bob Hetzel said the amount of the financial burden UW-L will have to bear has not been determined.
"We know there is going to be a lapse," Hetzel said. "That is a one time cut and it could be as high as a million dollars, but it's not permanent."
Chancellor Joe Gow is very concerned by the possibility of losing faculty.
"The challenge is 85-90% of the budget is in salaries of people who work here," Gow said. "The big money is in people and we really don't want to let people go."
However, because of the Growth, Quality, and Access Agenda, the University is still planning on adding faculty this fall, Hetzel said.
The Growth, Quality, and Access Agenda was approved last December to increase incoming student's tuition in order to higher new faculty, Gow explained.
"What would be unfortunate is if we have to cut faculty on one end because of the state budget, but then add back with Growth, Quality, and Access," Gow said. "We won't make the gains we wanted to result from that program."
According to Hetzel, the University is still hoping to add 14 faculty and 4 staff positions.
"If we have adjustments to make we are hoping that doesn't impact quality," Hetzel said. "I have to be realistic, it may have some impact, but we're going to try and lessen that as much as possible."
The most concerning thing is UW-L may have to give back some of the money the system provided for the Growth Agenda, Gow said. This money was supposed to be used to offer financial aid for new students.
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