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Students fight back against cuts to UW System that now look more likely: “It`s hard to afford tuition”
Students fight back against cuts to UW System that now look more likely: "It`s hard to afford tuition"
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Fighting back against proposed cuts, UW-Milwaukee students rallied Thursday, May 7th. Governor Scott Walker's proposed budget calls for $300 million in cuts to the University of Wisconsin System. Thursday's rally came one day after lawmakers in Madison learned there would be no extra tax revenue -- something they had hoped would help ease those proposed cuts.
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau on Wednesday released a report that showed tax collection revenue to date has grown by 3.3%. In January, the LFB projected it would increase by 3.7%.
Students rallying on the UWM campus Thursday say they're worried the cuts will eventually lead to fewer departments and higher tuition.
Governor Walker says his proposed cuts would come with an increased flexibility for universities that should keep students from suffering.
"I'm Mexican and come from the south side. It is really hard to be able to afford tuition," UWM engineering student Jorge Maya said.
Maya said he worries students will end up having to plug the budget gap.
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau's report showing tax revenue growth is slightly smaller than expected means major cuts to the UW System are more likely. Students worry that in addition to higher tuition, they'll wind up with fewer programs.
"The biggest thing, and me being a design, art student, is the art programs, music -- the soul of this university stands to be threatened," UWM design student Christopher Antimo said.
Speaking at an international trade conference on Thursday, Walker said the cuts are not all that drastic -- adding they would give universities the flexibility to manage their new budgets in a way that doesn't impact students.
Scott Walker
"I think in terms of the UW, it`s 2.5% of their total budget, of all funds. We think it`s very realistic that if they use the flexibilities we proposed in the original authority idea, they`d be more than able to make due going forward," Walker said.
Some say the money could be restored by freezing or reducing tax credits. Walker says that would do more harm than good.
"I`d hate to see us slow down something that I think has had a major impact in terms of helping create jobs, create opportunities," Walker said.
"It`s always about cuts to some type of social program and tax breaks for the wealthy. I think that can be reversed a little bit," Maya said.
Walker went on to say the top priority is avoiding any cuts to K-12 education.
It is almost the exact same message we heard Wednesday from Assembly Republicans in Madison.