The Capitol Report, produced by WisPolitics.com — a nonpartisan, Madison-based news service that specializes in coverage of government and politics — provides a weekly analysis of issues being debated in Wisconsin state government. It is underwritten by the WNA and produced exclusively for its members. WisPolitics.com President Jeff Mayers is a former editor and reporter for the Associated Press and a former political writer for the Wisconsin State Journal.
By WisPolitics-State Affairs
Months after the abrupt departure of Jay Rothman, Universities of Wisconsin leaders are unveiling a budget they hope will focus elected officials on the future.
And they are offering a deal.
While proposing an additional $730 million in aid over the next two years, they are offering to freeze tuition over that period — if the state comes up with the money to cover the lost revenue.
UW Board of Regents President Kyle Weatherly and interim system President Renee Wachter say if state lawmakers take them up on the offer for $190 million to fund the freeze, the system would also keep tuition increases at or under the rate of inflation for the 2029-31 biennium.
“That means four years of predictable tuition with costs that remain well below inflation,” Weatherly said, adding that the proposal would keep UW as the “Midwest leader in tuition affordability.”
The proposed request comes after UW two years ago sought an $856.7 million bump in state aid, which amounted to an increase of 31.8%. The bipartisan budget Dem Gov. Tony Evers signed in July 2025 included a boost of $239 million, the largest increase the system had seen in the previous two decades.
Along with the regents signing off on the proposal, the next governor will decide how much funding to propose for the system in the 2027-29 budget sent to the Legislature early next year. In addition to a new governor, the Legislature will see a new Assembly speaker and a new
Senate majority leader.
Change is afoot at the Capitol, and perhaps UW can do a reset.
UW’s in-state tuition ranks 12th among the 16 universities in the Big Ten system, according to board documents from earlier this year, and 6th for out-of-state tuition.
Regents in June approved a 2% tuition increase for in-state undergraduates for the 2026-27 school year, with variable tuition increases for out-of-state students. Administrators cited increased salary and fringe benefit costs as a leading driver for the increases. Segregated fees and room and board costs are also increasing.
Regents have voted to increase tuition every year since 2023.
Republican lawmakers criticized the latest tuition increase when it was announced, and GOP gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany has said he would freeze in-state tuition if elected.
The budget request also includes:
–$50 million for “last-dollar” financial aid to students with
families at or below the state’s median income who are working or
participating in a “career-preparation commitment” like an internship
or apprenticeship.
–$35 million to boost compensation for several university employee
classes, including lecturers, instructors, campus police, and
custodians.
–$90 million in increased state aid to train 35,000 new healthcare
professionals.
–$25 million for research into cancer, Alzheimer’s disease,
Parkinson’s disease and other illnesses.
The system also proposed having the Higher Education Aids Board fully fund tuition remissions for veterans. In the budget documents, the university noted the unfunded costs are projected to total nearly $80 million over the next biennium. That figure is not included in the $730 million request.
It’s too early to say how the proposal will fare, because a lot will be up to voters in November. Do they elect a Democratic governor and a Dem-controlled Legislature? Or will it be some sort of split government?
Those are keys in whether budget items like this will succeed.
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