Wisconsin Regents Approve $855 Million Budget Proposal

The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents has unanimously approved a request for an additional $855 million in state funding for the 2025-27 budget, aimed at addressing significant financial challenges within the system. President Jay Rothman emphasized that this funding would not be used to raise tuition but rather to invest in the future of the universities, which have seen state aid drop from nearly 42% of revenue in the 1980s to 17.5% today. The $855 million represents a 10.8% increase in the current budget of $7.95 billion and is intended to cover salary increases for faculty and staff as well as expand the Wisconsin Tuition Promise for low-income students. Regent Ashok Rai warned that without this funding, financial pressures would ultimately fall on students and parents, as six campuses currently face budget deficits. UW officials have also announced plans to close six two-year campuses due to these financial strains. The proposal has been sent to Governor Tony Evers for consideration as part of the state's next budget cycle.