News reports say UW System ‘spared’ from more across-the-board cuts

That was the tenor of state news coverage following last Friday’s budget action by the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted that the UW System will have to give back an additional $7 million in auxiliary funds — revenue from residence halls, bookstore operations, dining services, residence halls and parking — and that at this point, the UW System’s 2009-11 budget request is being cut by $120 million in state funding, about 5 percent of its taxpayer support. The Wisconsin State Journal quotes budget committee co-chairman Rep. Mark Pocan, and notes that all or most University employees will still have to take 16 days of unpaid furloughs and give up 2 percent raises scheduled for June. Read more – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel or Wisconsin State Journal.