In virtual event, Blank also says she opposes blanket cancellations of student loan debt
Legislative leaders in Wisconsin have recoiled at a number of proposals in Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed budget on the grounds that more spending isn’t necessary in areas — ranging from expanding broadband access to higher education spending — that will be boosted by federal money coming from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
On Thursday, two UW System chancellors pushed back on that claim, saying the ARPA money isn’t even enough to fill the COVID-sized hole in their finances, much less provide the investment in the state’s public education system that they say is required.
At a virtual event hosted by WisPolitics and the Milwaukee Press Club, UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank and UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone said the federal money can’t be spent on items such as faculty salaries and half of the relief dollars need to go toward emergency aid for students.
“I think that’s just a complete misunderstanding of the federal dollars that are coming to higher education,” Blank said. “So we’re getting dollars that are very specifically constrained, they must be spent on costs that were related to COVID.”
Evers’ proposals include the statewide expansion of a program that provides grants to help low-income students pay for college. The governor’s capital budget proposal also includes needed infrastructure upgrades for campuses across the UW System.
“There has to be state investment in higher education, and that’s going to require dollars of the sort that Gov. Evers is asking for and we’re talking with the state Legislature about,” Blank said. “I think that there’s always an argument as to why you can’t fund universities, and if they won’t find one they’ll find another. I mean I think most of the people in the legislature understand the nature of these federal dollars.”
Mone said the federal money can help with the losses of the past year, but that he hopes the state budget can turn the tide on investment in higher education in the state.
“We have had continued disinvestment in the state of Wisconsin higher ed, for the last 11 years, relative to other regional public universities,” Mone said. “This puts us in a very difficult situation to keep the cost of education lower, to continue to provide the quality education that really is needed for us to maintain our quality of life, and the opportunities for individuals and families to have the great education system the University of Wisconsin System has been known for.”
Blank said the expenses and losses of revenue caused by the pandemic have created a $320 million hole in the UW-Madison budget. After spending the federal relief aid dedicated to student support, the school will have $40-45 million to spend on its COVID-related costs, according to Blank. At UW-Milwaukee, Mone said he’s facing a budget gap of $88-89 million.
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