At a time when there is broad recognition that universities can be the engine that drives communities to higher economic gains, the Joint Finance Committee cut $11 million that was to create 120 faculty positions and added $25 million to the $65 million in cuts already proposed in Gov. Jim Doyle’s budget, though it did leave in $2.5 million to bolster salaries of high-achiever faculty members in danger of being hired away.
This makes no sense. The state has a $1.6 billion budget deficit in large part because the Wisconsin economy has not gained steam and produced expected tax revenue. So the committee’s response is to further lessen its investment in one of the best instruments available to produce more college graduates to energize the economy and pay higher taxes.