MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) — The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point will feel the impact of additional cuts made by Governor Scott Walker’s veto pen.
One of the vetoes eliminates $124,400 dollars earmarked for the college’s paper science program. That money was put back into the budget by the Joint Finance Committee to pay for the operator of UWSP’s on campus paper making machine.
Walker’s written summary of the budget vetoes says, “Section 596g specifies that, from the grants for forestry programs appropriation, in each year of the 2015-17 biennium, $124,400 be provided to the University of WisconsinStevens Point for the paper science program and $10,100 (the remaining appropriation balance) be provided to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the Center for Cooperatives. For fiscal year 2017-18, sections 596r and 9448 (5k) restore the prior funding levels for the paper science program and Center for Cooperatives of $78,000 and $56,500 (the remaining appropriation balance), respectively. I am vetoing these sections in their entirety because I believe existing funding levels from the conservation fund are appropriate, and that the University of Wisconsin System can reallocate other funds if needed for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point paper science program.”
The other negative impact for the Stevens Point campus is the veto eliminating funding for an aquaculture specialist at the Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility near Ashland. The NADF site works with students and industry partners to advance technology and best practices in fish farming.
In his summary explaining vetoes, Walker says, “These sections provide tribal gaming funding of $100,000 annually for the Aquaculture Demonstration Facility, to fund a University of Wisconsin System-Extension aquaculture specialist position. I am vetoing these sections because I object to the unnecessary use of tribal gaming funding for this purpose, and believe that if the University of Wisconsin System believes a position is needed to carry out the mission of the Aquaculture Demonstration Facility, it may reallocate system resources.”
One item in the budget requested by UW Stevens Point did get the Governor’s approval. UWSP will now be allowed to utilize differential tuition, where students pay more for each semester to fund required hard-to-get classes. This will prevent a large number of students from having to pay over $7,500 dollars for an additional semester in their fifth year just to get the required courses finished.
