The Republican-controlled legislature cut two financial aid proposals for University of Wisconsin System students along with over 600 other items from Gov. Tony Evers’ 2025-27 Capital Budget, while also passing provisions approving statewide infrastructure projects.
Wisconsin’s two-year budget process begins July 1 of every odd-numbered year. Evers introduced the next biennial budget on Feb. 18, consisting of agency requests and governor recommendations on how to allocate funds for various projects. Evers’ budget prioritizes funding increases for public schools, including the largest funding increase for the UW System, calling it the “most pro-kid budget in state history.”
Previously, Republicans have disregarded Evers’ proposed budget and created their own, ignoring the Democratic governor’s proposals. This year, Republicans opted to remove items rather than scrapping the budget altogether, showing more collaboration.
Cuts to the budget’s proposed financial aid programs
On May 8, the Republican-led Joint Finance Committee (JFC) cut a $128 million financial aid proposal aimed at helping 5,000 low income students across all 12 UW-System campuses.
The proposal would have funded a $39 million “last dollar” scholarship — similar to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s privately funded “Bucky’s Promise” — covering tuition for students whose family’s adjusted gross income falls below the state median, around $70,000 for a four-person household.
“Anybody who wants to and is willing to do the work, should have the opportunity to go to one of our great public universities,” Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, told The Daily Cardinal. “Unfortunately, every decision that Republican politicians make is driving young people away and making it harder for all of us to succeed, and hurting our economy in the process.”
Republican lawmakers also blocked a scholarship for tribal students in Wisconsin to receive free tuition at all UW System schools, not just UW-Madison, and Evers’ proposed tuition waiver for education majors who student teach.
The 2025-27 Capital Budget also included an $856 million investment for the UW System, the largest two-year increase in state funding for the UW System in state history, which still stands as of now, despite Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, calling the increase a likely “nonstarter.”
UW System president Jay Rothman has continuously called for increased state investment in the system, pointing to a study which found Wisconsin ranked 44 out of 50 in public funding for four-year universities.
Although some items have been cut from the budget, Republicans argue the budget process should not create policy, meaning some of the removed proposals may come back later this year as separate legislation.
Statewide repair project approval
The Republican-led Wisconsin State Building Commission (SBC) approved statewide projects totalling approximately $125 million May 8, including the expansion of UW-Madison’s ownership of the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery and space under the new Computer, Data and Information Science building, a gift from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.
Additionally, the SBC approved the replacement of aging underground stream lines, chilled water systems, vaults and electrical infrastructure at UW-Stevens Point and UW-La Crosse.
“Whether it’s supporting the success of students and our state’s dedicated public servants, investing in community infrastructure to uphold public safety, or ensuring we are laying the groundwork to advance future development, these investments today will pay dividends for our state’s future,” Evers said in a statement.
The UW System submitted their budget request to the Department of Administration in September 2024, which Evers then reviewed before preparing his budget proposal.
The JFC began reviewing Evers’ budget proposal in February, followed closely by Evers' announcement of the Capital Budget in March, with reviews and modifications from the JFC continuing until May.
Finally, the budget will go to the state Assembly and Senate for them to act on in June. Evers is then expected to sign the budget and issue any vetoes in July, though the timeline may face delays.
Zoey Elwood is copy chief for The Daily Cardinal. She also covers state news.
