Mone details response to proposed budget cuts

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Chancellor Mark Mone details University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s response to Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to cut the UW System budget by $300 million over two years:  “We are going to get through this. We are going to be strong.” (Photos by Derek Scott Rickert)

Gov. Scott Walker has proposed cutting the University of Wisconsin System budget by $300 million over two years to help address a shortfall projected at up to $2 billion over two years. UW-Milwaukee’s share of that is estimated at $40 million, including a reduction of about 15 percent in state funding in the first year. Here are some things to know about the budget situation:

Video by Chris Baylor

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THE LATEST

UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone told hundreds of faculty and staff members at a Tuesday meeting that he and other campus leaders are lobbying lawmakers to reduce, or at least delay, the cuts. Additional meetings are planned Wednesday and next week.

“We have been making the case . . . about the important things that we do, and the contributions that we have made, and why the need for support it so great,” Mone said.

He pointed to public support for UW System’s public service mission, popularly known as the “Wisconsin Idea.” UW-Milwaukee has a unique role in fulfilling that mission as an urban, public research university dedicated to community engagement and ensuring student access, he said.

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Geography Professor Mark Schwartz, chair of the Faculty Senate Executive (University) Committee, addresses faculty and staff during Tuesdays’ meeting.

WALKER’S PROPOSAL

The key provisions of Walker’s plan that remain are the budget cuts and a proposal to spin the UW System off from state government and place it under a public authority.

Mone said the public authority has some appeal in giving campuses greater flexibility and potential savings. But the changes would not come until July 1, 2016, a year after the first half of any budget cuts take effect. Mone said one request being made of lawmakers was to create the public authority before instituting any budget cuts.

“Give us flexibility first,” he said after the meeting. During the meeting, he said it is unlikely the long-term savings under a public authority would be enough to offset Walker’s proposed cuts.

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UWM RESPONSE

While he is advocating for a change in the governor’s plan, Mone said he also has ordered certain measures to control costs, including putting a hold on non-essential travel and hiring.

He also has created two campus task forces – one focused on communication and another responsible for recommending how any cuts might be implemented. Mone said the budget task force should be able to provide information in coming weeks on what the impact of various levels of cuts might be.

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Hundreds of faculty and staff members listen as Chancellor Mark Mone details UWM’s response to Walker’s proposed budget cuts.

STATE FUNDING FOR UWM

Walker’s proposal follows more than a decade of cuts in state support for the UW System. State taxes cover 18.5 percent of UW-Milwaukee’s budget this school year, compared to 25.1 percent in 2005-2006.

In 2014-15, UW-Milwaukee received $130 million from the state, which includes a base budget cut of more than $8 million. A base budget is the “ongoing” amount the campus receives for operations. It begins with the prior year’s budget and includes incremental changes for new initiatives, pay and other items.

UW-Milwaukee’s total operating budget is nearly $705 million, with money from tuition, grants, federal student aid and other sources.

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NEXT STEPS

UW-Milwaukee has created a dedicated budget Web site, https://uwm.edu/budget/, to provide updates and is introducing a weekly electronic newsletter that includes stories about the impact the university has on students, the community and southeastern Wisconsin’s economy. Mone asked faculty and staff to share these stories via social media to reach alumni, business and community leaders, and others who can advocate for the university.

He also promised weekly public meetings in which he will provide updates on the budget process and answer questions.

“We are going to get through this,” Mone said. “We are going to be strong.”

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